Intensive care clinician attitudes and perceptions towards whānau participation in adult intensive care bedside ward rounds in Aotearoa New Zealand: An online survey.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines endorse family involvement in ward rounds to improve communication and engagement between patients, whānau (family), and healthcare teams, yet the practice has not been universally implemented. Whānau inclusion in adult bedside rounds is often met with hesitation by intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare clinicians, and reasons for this have not been explored in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess attitudes and perceptions of ICU clinicians towards whānau-family inclusion in adult ICU ward rounds in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Effect of UV exposure on DNA deposited on drug capsules.

Illicit drugs are often made in less-than-sterile environments and can be stored in ways which can be detrimental to any DNA present, such as whether they are exposed to UV radiation. Previously, analysis of how exposure to UV impacted DNA for forensic applications has been in controlled laboratory conditions isolating a single component of UV radiation and often on DNA-rich samples such as bloodstains or saliva. To evaluate DNA persistence in more realistic conditions, capsules, such as those used to distribute controlled substances, were manually made and then packed into ziplock bags.

Writing for publication: The basics.

Problem: Writing for publication can be a challenging experience. Whilst midwives develop writing skills through their university education, writing a journal article can be quite different.

Purpose: To explain some basic skills of scientific writing when preparing a paper for publication to support midwives in engaging in scientific writing.

Asphalt pavement emission behavior under solar radiation during in-service period.

The toxic fume emitted from asphalt pavement remains a health and environmental hazard towards public safety, especially the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Despite extensive studies focused on characterizing asphalt fumes generated during construction stages (i.e.

Intercomparison of in-well, depth profile and online soil gas measurements for estimating petroleum natural source zone depletion rates: Will in-well gas samples suffice?

Natural Source Zone Deletion (NSZD) is a viable long-term management option for sites impacted by petroleum hydrocarbon fuels. NSZD rate estimation methods for petroleum mass losses often use soil gas gradients of oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane or vapour concentrations through the vadose zone. Seeking greater efficiencies, we investigated if existing short-screened wells are reliable for representative sampling of soil gases in a vadose zone undergoing NSZD.

The regulatory mechanisms for beef tenderization by the calcium-independent phospholipase A activity of Peroxiredoxin 6.

This study investigated the effect of the inhibition of the activity of Ca-independent Phospholipase A (iPLA) of Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) on beef tenderization in the early post-mortem period. Longissimus lumborum (LL) were incubated with or without the inhibitor of iPLA activity of Prdx6 (MJ33) for 1, 6, 12, 24, or 36 h, followed by incubation with or without the HO. iPLA activity, troponin T and desmin, Ca concentration, calpain-1, caspases, apoptosis rate, and cell morphology were examined.

Artificial intelligence for brain neuroanatomical segmentation in magnetic resonance imaging: A literature review.

Purpose: This literature review aims to synthesise current research on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for the segmentation of brain neuroanatomical structures in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A literature search was conducted using the databases Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, and captured articles were assessed for inclusion in the review. Data extraction was performed for the summary of the AI model used, and key findings of each article, advantages and disadvantages were identified.

Confirming the validity and reliability of the Placement Evaluation Tool to evaluate midwifery practice placements (PET-Midwifery).

Problem: In Australia, program accreditation requirements include that education providers monitor and evaluate teaching and learning environments and provide evidence of outcomes being used to inform program quality improvement. Yet, closing this loop has proven challenging.

Background: The Australian National Placement Evaluation Centre (NPEC) functions to measure the quality of placements through student evaluations.

What happens after menopause? (WHAM): A prospective controlled study of cognition 24 months after premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

Objective: Women with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants considering risk-reducing bilateral oophorectomy (RRSO) may be concerned about potential effects of surgical menopause on cognition. Whether RRSO affects cognition and whether hormone therapy (HT) modifies this effect remains uncertain. This study aimed to prospectively measure the effect of premenopausal RRSO on cognition and the modifying effects of HT up to 24 months.

Changes in the caries-associated microbiota and caries experience in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to determine the differences in the caries-associated microbiota and caries experience among children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to healthy children in observational studies.

Design: Registered in PROPSERO (CRD42024529842), this review involved searching four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science) from inception to April 2024. Citation searching was further performed on eligible studies from the database search.

Estimation of dose to a bystander from F-18 FDG patients using Monte Carlo simulation in clinical exposure scenarios.

The radiation exposure to bystanders from nuclear medicine patients is a common concern raised in nuclear medicine departments. The GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission) Monte Carlo radiation transport application was used to estimate the dose to a bystander. Two voxelised phantoms were utilised in a GATE Monte Carlo simulation as the radiation source and target.

Effectiveness of Different Intervention Modes in Lifestyle Intervention for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes and the Reversion to Normoglycemia in Adults With Prediabetes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Lifestyle interventions have been acknowledged as effective strategies for preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the accessibility of conventional face-to-face interventions is often limited. Digital health intervention has been suggested as a potential solution to overcome the limitation.

First-Line Mobocertinib Versus Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Patients With Exon 20 Insertion-Positive Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Phase III EXCLAIM-2 Trial.

Purpose: Mobocertinib is an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This open-label, phase III trial (EXCLAIM-2: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04129502) compared mobocertinib versus platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment of ex20ins+ advanced/metastatic NSCLC.

Association of Year-to-Year Lipid Variability With Risk of Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: Lipid metabolism in older adults is affected by various factors including biological aging, functional decline, reduced physiologic reserve, and nutrient intake. The dysregulation of lipid metabolism could adversely affect brain health. This study investigated the association between year-to-year intraindividual lipid variability and subsequent risk of cognitive decline and dementia in community-dwelling older adults.

The Effectiveness of Online Mindfulness Training for Psychologists - A Brief Report.

Objective: Mindfulness training (MT) in healthcare training has been associated with improvement in mental wellbeing and clinical skills such as empathy. Despite this, it is often challenging for professional psychology programs to include MT in the curriculum due to competing coursework demands and staffing requirements. The current study aimed to determine whether changes in mindfulness, self-compassion and tolerance of uncertainty were equivalent for those completing MT face-to-face on campus or online.

Effect of iron fortification and prebiotics on iron biomarkers in anemic rats.

One of the biggest public health problems globally is that of iron deficiency anemia. The present research aimed to determine the effect of prebiotics along with iron fortification on iron biomarkers in female anemic rats as some evidence suggests that prebiotics convert increase the solubility of iron, thereby enhancing its absorption. A total of 126 Sprague Dawley rats were fed with sixteen different types of fortified feed containing prebiotics (Inulin + Galacto Oligosaccharides) and Iron Fortificants (Sodium Ferric Ethylenediaminetetraacetate + Ferrous Sulphate).

Validity and Reliability of a Kicking Skill Test to Benchmark Talent Development and Identification in Australian Football: A Professional Senior and Elite Junior Comparison.

Australian Football (AF) is a fast-paced contact invasion sport that requires players to execute a variety of kicks to effectively pass the football and score a goal. Current assessment of elite senior kicking skills in AF is confined to isolated and static skill tests that do not adequately represent match-like skill demands. The purpose of this study is to overcome the test design issues currently present in elite senior testing protocols, within the applied setting, and assess the validity and reliability of a modified Level-3 Australian football field-based dynamic kicking assessment (AFFB-DKA) for senior elite AF players.

Islet Autoantibody Screening Throughout Australia Using In-Home Blood Spot Sampling: 2-Year Outcomes of Type1Screen.

Objective: Type1Screen offers islet autoantibody testing to Australians with a family history of type 1 diabetes (T1D) with the dual aims of preventing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and enabling use of disease-modifying therapy. We describe screening and monitoring outcomes 2 years after implementing in-home capillary blood spot sampling.

Research Design And Methods: Data from 2,064 participants who registered between July 2022 and June 2024 were analyzed: 1,507 and 557 chose blood spot and venipuncture screening respectively.

The chloroplast RNA-binding protein CP29A supports expression during cold acclimation.

The chloroplast genome encodes key components of the photosynthetic light reaction machinery as well as the large subunit of the enzyme central for carbon fixation, Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphat-carboxylase/-oxygenase (RuBisCo). Its expression is predominantly regulated posttranscriptionally, with nuclear-encoded RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) playing a key role. Mutants of chloroplast gene expression factors often exhibit impaired chloroplast biogenesis, especially in cold conditions.

Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cold-water immersion (CWI) has gained popularity as a health and wellbeing intervention among the general population.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the psychological, cognitive, and physiological effects of CWI in healthy adults.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomized trials involving healthy adults aged ≥ 18 years undergoing acute or long-term CWI exposure via cold shower, ice bath, or plunge with water temperature ≤15°C for at least 30 seconds.

Unraveling Ofloxacin Behavior in Aqueous Environments: Molecular Dynamics of Colloidal Formation and Surface Adsorption Mechanisms.

Ofloxacin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, raises serious environmental concerns due to its persistence in aquatic systems. This study offers new insights into the environmental behavior of ofloxacin and its interactions with carbon-based adsorbents with the aim of enhancing our understanding of its removal mechanisms via adsorption processes. Using a comprehensive computational approach, we analyzed the speciation, pK values, and solubility of ofloxacin across various pH conditions, accounting for all four microspecies, including the often-overlooked neutral form.

Exploring the relationship between established HIV risk factors and depressive symptoms amongst young women without HIV in two sites in South Africa.

Purpose: Adolescent girls are at high risk for depression and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. Poor mental health can increase vulnerability to risky sexual behaviours. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of depressive symptomology and explore the convergence of HIV risk factors with depressive symptoms amongst cis-gender adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and peri-urban Western Cape (WC) communities in South Africa.