Enhanced remediation of oil-contaminated mineral sand by the controlled release of a surfactant from calcium alginate capsules.

The remediation of oil-contaminated soil poses significant environmental challenges, often necessitating innovative approaches for effective and sustainable solutions. This study focuses on the synthesis, characterisation, and application of biodegradable capsules loaded with surfactant for enhanced oil remediation of a clean sand. By controlling the release properties of capsules, the research aims to overcome the limitations of conventional surfactant-based remediation methods, such as rapid washout and reduced efficacy over time.

Soma and neurite density abnormalities of paramagnetic rim lesions and core-sign lesions in multiple sclerosis.

Background: In multiple sclerosis (MS), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) may reveal white matter lesions (WML) with a paramagnetic rim ("paramagnetic rim lesions" [PRLs]) or diffuse hypointensity ("core-sign lesions"), reflecting different stages of WML evolution.

Objective: Using the soma and neurite density imaging (SANDI) model on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we characterized microstructural abnormalities of MS PRLs and core-sign lesions and their clinical relevance.

Methods: Forty MS patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) underwent a 3 T brain MRI.

Update to: self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in pulmonary hypertension.

https://bit.ly/3YLHIHm.

Post-traumatic stress disorder: evolving conceptualization and evidence, and future research directions.

The understanding of responses to traumatic events has been greatly influenced by the introduction of the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this paper we review the initial versions of the diagnostic criteria for this condition and the associated epidemiological findings, including sociocultural differences. We consider evidence for post-traumatic reactions occurring in multiple contexts not previously defined as traumatic, and the implications that these observations have for the diagnosis.

Advancing canopy-level entomological surveillance to monitor vector-borne and zoonotic disease dynamics.

Faced with the increased frequency of zoonotic spillover in recent decades, emerging vector-borne diseases from nonhuman primates pose a significant threat to global public health. Understanding transmission dynamics driven by arthropod vectors between wildlife populations is critical for surveillance, modeling, and mitigation. Elevated canopy-level sampling is a valuable approach for elucidating vector behavior and sylvatic transmission.

A Kinetic Enhanced Tuck Jump Assessment Exposes Residual Biomechanical Deficits in Female Athletes 9 Months Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Kember, LS, Riehm, CD, Schille, A, Slaton, JA, Myer, GD, and Lloyd, RS. Residual biomechanical deficits identified with the tuck jump assessment in female athletes 9 months after ACLR surgery. J Strength Cond Res 38(12): 2065-2073, 2024-Addressing biomechanical deficits in female athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is crucial for safe return-to-play.

A Kinetic Enhanced Tuck Jump Assessment Exposes Residual Biomechanical Deficits in Female Athletes 9 Months Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Kember, LS, Riehm, CD, Schille, A, Slaton, JA, Myer, GD, and Lloyd, RS. Residual biomechanical deficits identified with the tuck jump assessment in female athletes 9 months after ACLR surgery. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Addressing biomechanical deficits in female athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is crucial for safe return-to-play.

Design and implementation of optics for the experiment for cryogenic large-aperture intensity mapping (EXCLAIM).

This work describes the design and implementation of optics for EXCLAIM, the EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping. EXCLAIM is a balloon-borne telescope that will measure integrated line emission from carbon monoxide at redshifts z < 1 and ionized carbon ([CII]) at redshifts z = 2.5 - 3.

Coupling of single nanodiamonds hosting SiV color centers to plasmonic double bowtie microantennas.

Color centers are promising single-photon emitters owing to their operation at room temperature and high photostability. In particular, using nanodiamonds as a host material is of interest for sensing and metrology. Furthermore, being a solid-state system allows for incorporation to photonic systems to tune both the emission intensity and photoluminescence spectrum and therefore adapt the individual color center to desired properties.

A complementary experimental and computational study on methanol adsorption isotherms of H-ZSM-5.

Methanol adsorption isotherms of fresh f-ZSM-5 and steamed s-ZSM-5 (Si/Al ≈ 40) are investigated experimentally at room temperature under equilibrium and by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations with the aim of understanding the adsorption capacity, geometry and sites as a function of steam treatment (at 573 K for 24 h). Methanol adsorption energies calculated by GCMC are complemented by density functional theory (DFT) employing both periodic and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) techniques. Physical and textural properties of f-ZSM-5 and s-ZSM-5 are characterised by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transformed spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and N-physisorption, which form a basis to construct models for f-ZSM-5 and s-ZSM-5 to simulate methanol adsorption isotherms by GCMC.

Identifying genetic differences between bipolar disorder and major depression through multiple genome-wide association analyses.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BPD) is difficult in clinical practice, with an average delay between symptom onset and diagnosis of about 7 years. A depressive episode often precedes the first manic episode, making it difficult to distinguish BPD from unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD).

Aims: We use genome-wide association analyses (GWAS) to identify differential genetic factors and to develop predictors based on polygenic risk scores (PRS) that may aid early differential diagnosis.

Educational interventions improve disparities in patient access to kidney transplantation: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Transplantation significantly improves the quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease. Despite various educational strategies being assessed, the optimal approach to overcome barriers to kidney transplantation remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing educational interventions to improve kidney transplantation access.

Understanding the scale and nature of avoidable healthcare-associated harm for prisoners in England: protocol for a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Around 1 in 20 patients experience avoidable healthcare-associated harm worldwide. Despite longstanding concerns, there is insufficient information available about the safety of healthcare for prisoners. To address this, this study will investigate the scale and nature of avoidable healthcare-associated harm for prisoners in England.

Sexual health and healthy relationships for Further Education (SaFE) in Wales and England: results from a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To examine the acceptability of implementing, trialling and estimating the cost of the Sexual health and healthy relationships for Further Education (SaFE) intervention.

Design: Two-arm repeated cross-sectional pilot cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) of SaFE compared with usual practice, including a process evaluation and an economic assessment.

Setting: Eight further education (FE) settings in South Wales and the West of England, UK.

Effectiveness and user experience of nose and throat swabbing techniques for SARS-CoV-2 detection: results from the UK COVID-19 National Testing Programme.

Background: The UK's National Health Service Test and Trace (NHSTT) program aimed to provide the most effective and accessible SARS-CoV-2 testing approach possible. Early user feedback indicated that there were accessibility issues associated with throat swabbing. We report the results of service evaluations performed by NHSTT to assess the effectiveness and user acceptance of swabbing approaches, as well as qualitative findings of user experiences from research reports, surveys, and incident reports.

Coupling of single nanodiamonds hosting SiV color centers to plasmonic double bowtie microantennas.

Color centers are promising single-photon emitters owing to their operation at room temperature and high photostability. In particular, using nanodiamonds as a host material is of interest for sensing and metrology. Furthermore, being a solid-state system allows for incorporation to photonic systems to tune both the emission intensity and photoluminescence spectrum and therefore adapt the individual color center to desired properties.

Passive heating in sport: Context specific benefits, detriments, and considerations.

Exercise and passive heating share some acute physiological responses. These include increases in body temperature, sweat rate, blood flow, heart rate, and redistribution of plasma and blood volume. These responses can vary depending on the heating modality or dose (e.

New developments in optometric training in the United Kingdom.

With optometrists well placed to address the challenges and opportunities faced by contemporary eye care systems, it is ever more important to understand the genesis and development of the profession, so that optometrists can continue to build on this legacy for patient benefit. While the optometry profession of optometry in the United Kingdom can arguably trace its foundation back to 1629 and the Royal Charter gifted by Charles I to the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers to establish the 60 Livery Company of the City of London, the genesis of optometry as an independent profession (initially known as 'ophthalmic optics') can perhaps best be attributed to the formation of the British Optical Association in 1895. This paper reviews the current legal framework and recent changes that dictates how the optometry profession are trained and practice, along with clinical and educational innovations that are shaping the future role of the profession.

A Tertiary Centre's Experience With Using Ranibizumab Biosimilar Compared to Aflibercept for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Retrospective Study.

Objective This study aims to evaluate the real-world efficacy of ranibizumab biosimilar (Ongavia), compared to aflibercept (Eylea), in the treatment of treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) at a busy tertiary eye care centre. Methods A retrospective analysis of medical records from August 2022 to August 2024 was conducted, comparing treatment outcomes in treatment-naive nAMD patients who received either Ongavia or Eylea intravitreal anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections under a treat-and-extend protocol. Initial and 12-month outcome measures post-treatment initiation were collected, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), prescribed treatment intervals, actual injection frequency, and the average total number of injections per eye over 12 months.

First-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy in SCLC: Outcomes of a Binational Real-World Study.

Introduction: SCLC is characterized by aggressiveness and limited treatment options, especially in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Immunotherapy added to the platinum-etoposide combination has recently become standard in this setting. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of chemo-immunotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC, focusing on subpopulations excluded from clinical trials.

Medicine Meets Science: The Imperative of Scientific Research and Publishing for Physician-Scientists.

Physician-scientists serve as conduits between clinical practice and scientific research, leveraging their unique expertise to improve patient care and drive medical innovation. This article highlights the indispensable role of research and publishing in promoting evidence-based practices, facilitating professional growth, and shaping public health policy. Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, I examine the challenges faced by physician-scientists, such as ethical dilemmas and declining engagement in research, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Evolution of amorphous ruthenium nanoclusters into stepped truncated nano-pyramids on graphitic surfaces boosts hydrogen production from ammonia.

Atomic-scale changes can significantly impact heterogeneous catalysis, yet their atomic mechanisms are challenging to establish using conventional analysis methods. By using identical location scanning transmission electron microscopy (IL-STEM), which provides quantitative information at the single-particle level, we investigated the mechanisms of atomic evolution of Ru nanoclusters during the ammonia decomposition reaction. Nanometre-sized disordered nanoclusters transform into truncated nano-pyramids with stepped edges, leading to increased hydrogen production from ammonia.

A finite volume adaptation of beam-to-beam contact interactions implemented for geometrically exact Simo-Reissner beams.

This paper presents an adaption of the finite-element based beam-to-beam contact interactions into a finite volume numerical framework. A previous work of the same authors, where a cell-centred based finite volume implementation of geometrically exact nonlinear Simo-Reissner beams was developed, is used as an underlying mathematical model. An implicit contact procedure is developed for both point-to-point and line-to-line beam frictionless contact interactions, and is implemented using the cell-centred finite volume method.