Formulation and evaluation of PVA-based composite hydrogels: physicochemical, leachables, and immunogenicity studies.

This study explores the formulation and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based composite hydrogels synthesized through solid-state crosslinking. Comprehensive assessments were conducted on their physicochemical properties, leachables, and immunogenicity. Swelling experiments demonstrated that the incorporation of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) enhanced water retention, while chitosan had a minimal effect on swelling behavior.

Effect of Plant Versus Animal Protein on Muscle Mass, Strength, Physical Performance, and Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Context: Dietary protein is recommended for sarcopenia-a debilitating condition of age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that affects 27% of older adults. The effects of protein on muscle health may depend on protein quality.

Objective: The aim was to synthesize randomized controlled trial (RCT) data comparing plant with animal protein for muscle health.

Impact of Financial Toxicity on the Health-Related Quality of Life and Financial Well-Being of Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Comparative Study of the United Kingdom and United States.

Background: This study investigated and compared the impact of financial toxicity (FT) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and financial well-being of cancer patients and survivors in the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US).

Methods: UK & US participants (n = 600) completed an online questionnaire that consisted of a validated FT instrument (COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity-COST), a standardised HRQoL instrument (EQ-5D-5L) and questions related to their financial well-being. Tobit regression models and descriptive statistics plus χ tests were used to analyse the association between FT and (i) HRQoL whilst controlling for sociodemographic characteristics; and (ii) financial well-being.

Distinct Behavioral Profiles and Neuronal Correlates of Heroin Vulnerability Versus Resiliency in a Multi-Symptomatic Model of Heroin Use Disorder in Rats.

Objective: The behavioral and diagnostic heterogeneity within the opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis is not readily captured in current animal models, limiting the translational relevance of the mechanistic research that is conducted in experimental animals. The authors hypothesized that a nonlinear clustering of OUD-like behavioral traits would capture population heterogeneity and yield subpopulations of OUD vulnerable rats with distinct behavioral and neurocircuit profiles.

Methods: Over 900 male and female heterogeneous stock rats, a line capturing genetic and behavioral heterogeneity present in humans, were assessed for several measures of heroin use and rewarded and non-rewarded seeking behaviors.

Bioorthogonal Synthesis of Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Screening Chemical Hazards in Food Samples.

The ability to identify unknown risks is the key to improving the level of food safety. However, the conventional nontargeted screening methods for new contaminant identification and risk assessment remain difficult work. Herein, a toxic-oriented screening platform based on high-expression epidermal growth factor receptor HEK293 cell membrane-coated magnetic nanoparticles (EGFR/MNPs) was first used for the discovery of unknown contaminants from food samples.

Psychological detachment from work predicts mental wellbeing of working-age adults: Findings from the 'Wellbeing of the Workforce' (WoW) prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Background: There is an urgent need to better understand the factors that predict mental wellbeing in vocationally active adults during globally turbulent times.

Aim: To explore the relationship between psychological detachment from work (postulated as a key recovery activity from work) in the first national COVID-19 lockdown with health, wellbeing, and life satisfaction of working age-adults one year later, within the context of a global pandemic.

Methods: Wellbeing of the Workforce (WoW) was a prospective longitudinal cohort study, with two waves of data collection (Time 1, April-June 2020: T1 n = 337; Time 2, March-April 2021: T2 = 169) corresponding with the first and third national COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK.

Broken Symmetry and Elastic Frustration in Isostructural Spin Crossover Crystals.

Symmetry-breaking spin-state transitions in two of three isostructural salts of MnIII spin-crossover cations, [MnIII(3-OMe-5-NO2-sal2323)]+, with heavy anions are reported. The ReO4-  salt undergoes two-step spin crossover which is coupled with a re-entrant symmetry-breaking structural phase transition between a high temperature phase (S = 2, C2/c), an intermediate ordered phase (S = 1/S = 2, P21/c), and a low temperature phase (S = 1, C2/c). The AsF6-  complex undergoes an abrupt transition between a high temperature phase (S = 2, C2/c) and a low temperature ordered phase (S = 1/S = 2, P-1).

Mycotoxin exposure through the consumption of processed cereal food for children (< 5 years old) from rural households of Oshana, a region of Namibia.

Mycotoxin exposure from contaminated food is a significant global health issue, particularly among vulnerable children. Given limited data on mycotoxin exposure among Namibian children, this study investigated mycotoxin types and levels in foods, evaluated dietary mycotoxin exposure from processed cereal foods in children under age five from rural households in Oshana region, Namibia. Mycotoxins in cereal-based food samples (n = 162) (mahangu flour (n = 35), sorghum flour (n = 13), mahangu thin/thick porridge (n = 54), oshikundu (n = 56), and omungome (n = 4)) were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Non-native species have higher consumption rates than their native counterparts.

Non-native species can be major drivers of ecosystem alteration, especially through changes in trophic interactions. Successful non-native species have been predicted to have greater resource use efficiency relative to trophically analogous native species (the Resource Consumption Hypothesis), but rigorous evidence remains equivocal. Here, we tested this proposition quantitatively in a global meta-analysis of comparative functional response studies.

Mepolizumab real-world effectiveness in severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype and overlapping severe allergic asthma.

Background: Some patients with severe asthma have overlapping allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes and may be eligible for anti-eosinophilic or anti-IgE biologics.

Objective: This post hoc sub-analysis assessed real-world mepolizumab effectiveness in patients with overlapping allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes, using 1-year data from the international, prospective REALITI-A study.

Methods: The clinically significant asthma exacerbation (CSE) rate was assessed 1 year prior to (pre-treatment) and following (follow-up) mepolizumab treatment, stratified by baseline total IgE levels (tIgE; <60, 60-<190, 190-<550, and ≥550 kU/L), atopic status (yes/no/unknown), prior omalizumab use (yes/no), geographic baseline omalizumab eligibility (eligible/non-eligible), and baseline tIgE level and blood eosinophil count (BEC) threshold combinations (<81 or ≥81 kU/L and <300 or ≥300 cells/µL).

Comparing analog and 3D measurements of vertical dimension in edentulous subjects.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the feasibility and reliability of measuring the vertical dimension of occlusion/rest (OVD/RVD) on 3D facial scans of edentulous patients.

Methods: Nineteen edentulous participants rehabilitated with complete removable dental prostheses (CDs) participated in this study. Analog measurements (control) were obtained directly on the face for each participant with the jaws positioned at the rest position (without CDs, RVD) and at central occlusion (OVD), between the facial landmarks: Glabella (G) and Soft Pogonion (SP), Pronasale (PN) and SP, and Subnasale (SN) and SP.

Insight into photocatalytic CO reduction on TiO-supported Cu nanorods: a DFT study on the reaction mechanism and selectivity.

Photoreduction of CO into hydrocarbons is a potential strategy for reducing atmospheric CO and effectively utilizing carbon resources. Cu-deposited TiO photocatalysts stand out in this area due to their good photocatalytic activity and potential methanol selectivity. However, the underlying mechanism and factors controlling product selectivity remain less understood.

Natural Protein-Based Multifunctional Hydrogel Dressing Formed by Rapid Photocuring and Zinc Ion Coordination to Accelerate Wound Healing.

This study explores the use of chicken egg white (EW), a rich source of natural proteins, to address challenges in wound healing management. Herein, a novel Zn-infused EW/GelMA (EW/Gel) hybrid hydrogel is developed, featuring an interpenetrating network (IPN) structure, where the first network consists of photo-cross-linked GelMA and the second network consists of Zn-infused EW (Zn-EW) through ion-protein binding. By optimizing the design and formulation, the resulting Zn-EW/Gel hydrogel exhibited enhanced mechanical stability and self-adhesive properties.

Null subject comprehension and production revisited: a look at English and Italian.

This study will investigate how children acquire the option to drop the subject of a sentence, or null subjects (e.g., "Tickles me" instead of "He tickles me").

The impact of self-reported burnout and work-related quality of life on nurses' intention to leave the profession during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

The challenges of maintaining an effective and sustainable healthcare workforce include the recruitment and retention of skilled nurses. COVID-19 exacerbated these challenges, but they persist beyond the pandemic. We explored the impact of work-related quality of life and burnout on reported intentions to leave a variety of healthcare professions including nursing.

Psychological impact of an intensive care admission for COVID-19 on patients in the United Kingdom.

Background: The psychological impact of surviving an admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) with COVID-19 is uncertain. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in ICU survivors treated for COVID-19 infection, and identify risk factors for psychological distress.

Methods: This observational study was conducted at 52 ICUs in the United Kingdom.

Effect of Posterior Corneal Surgically Induced Astigmatism on Toric Intraocular Lens Power Calculations.

Background: To determine whether accounting for posterior corneal surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) would improve toric intraocular lens power calculation prediction error.

Methods: A total of 189 eyes of 148 patients undergoing routine cataract surgery were included in the study. Standard and posterior keratometry were measured pre- and postoperatively.

The Calicophoron daubneyi genome provides new insight into mechanisms of feeding, eggshell synthesis and parasite-microbe interactions.

Background: The rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi, is the major paramphistome species infecting ruminants within Europe. Adult flukes reside within the rumen where they are in direct contact with a unique collection of microorganisms. Here, we report a 1.

Nutritional intelligence in the food system: Combining food, health, data and AI expertise.

Transformative change is needed across the food system to improve health and environmental outcomes. As food, nutrition, environmental and health data are generated beyond human scale, there is an opportunity for technological tools to support multifactorial, integrated, scalable approaches to address the complexities of dietary behaviour change. Responsible technology could act as a mechanistic conduit between research, policy, industry and society, enabling timely, informed decision making and action by all stakeholders across the food system.

The Bifidogenic Effect of 2'Fucosyllactose Is Driven by Age-Specific Species, Demonstrating Age as an Important Factor for Gut Microbiome Targeted Precision Medicine.

Background: The human gut microbiota develops in concordance with its host over a lifetime, resulting in age-related shifts in community structure and metabolic function. Little is known about whether these changes impact the community's response to microbiome-targeted therapeutics. Providing critical information on this subject, faecal microbiomes of subjects from six age groups, spanning from infancy to 70-year-old adults (n = six per age group) were harvested.