Understanding the Termination Effect of TiCT MXene Membrane on Water Structure and Interaction with Alginate Foulants: A Molecular Dynamics Study.

The effects of termination functional groups of the TiCT MXene membrane on the structural and dynamics properties of nearby water molecules and foulants are investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation results show that a much denser water layer can be formed at the vicinity of hydroxyl (OH) termination than that near fluorine (F) or oxygen (O) termination. Particular focus is given to the molecular binding properties of β-d-mannuronic acid (M) and α-l-guluronic acid (G) alginate monomers on the MXene membrane surface with different termination groups.

Patient and provider perspectives on pain management during manual vacuum aspiration.

Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) is a painful procedure often conducted without analgesia. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a paracervical block (PCB) as the mode of pain relief during MVA. Few studies have assessed patient perspectives on pain control during MVA.

Evaluating water-quality trends in agricultural watersheds prioritized for management-practice implementation.

Many agricultural watersheds rely on the voluntary use of management practices (MPs) to reduce nonpoint source nutrient and sediment loads; however, the water-quality effects of MPs are uncertain. We interpreted water-quality responses from as early as 1985 through 2020 in three agricultural Chesapeake Bay watersheds that were prioritized for MP implementation, namely, the Smith Creek (Virginia), Upper Chester River (Maryland), and Conewago Creek (Pennsylvania) watersheds. We synthesized patterns in MPs, climate, land use, and nutrient inputs to better understand factors affecting nutrient and sediment loads.

A Rapid Host Response Blood Test for Bacterial/Viral Infection Discrimination Using a Portable Molecular Diagnostic Platform.

Background: Difficulty discriminating bacterial versus viral etiologies of infection drives unwarranted antibacterial prescriptions and, therefore, antibacterial resistance.

Methods: Utilizing a rapid portable test that measures peripheral blood host gene expression to discriminate bacterial and viral etiologies of infection (the HR-B/V assay on Biomeme's polymerase chain reaction-based Franklin platform), we tested 3 cohorts of subjects with suspected infection: the HR-B/V training cohort, the HR-B/V technical correlation cohort, and a coronavirus disease 2019 cohort.

Results: The Biomeme HR-B/V test showed very good performance at discriminating bacterial and viral infections, with a bacterial model accuracy of 84.

Brief Report: Precision Language and Deletion of the "S" Word.

Introduction: In 2021, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) published the IASLC Language Guide as guidance on preferred language and phrasing in oral and written communications, including presentations at conferences. This study analyzed presentations from the 2022 IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) one year after implementation of the Language Guide to identify adoption rates of non-stigmatizing language and to determine correlations with presenter characteristics.

Methods: We downloaded 522 slide presentations from the IASLC WCLC 2022 conference attendee portal.

Long-term Complications From Peripheral Nerve Blocks After Pediatric Orthopaedic Lower Extremity Procedures: A Systematic Review.

Background: Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are frequently utilized as a regional anesthetic in pediatric orthopaedic surgery for postoperative pain control and reduced time to discharge; however, short- and long-term complications after these procedures are variably reported.

Purpose: To identify the frequency of long-term complications in pediatric patients who received regional anesthesia for a lower extremity orthopaedic procedure.

Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Consensus findings of an International Workshops on Genotoxicity Testing workshop on using transcriptomic biomarkers to predict genotoxicity.

Gene expression biomarkers have the potential to identify genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens, providing opportunities for integrated testing and reducing animal use. In August 2022, an International Workshops on Genotoxicity Testing (IWGT) workshop was held to critically review current methods to identify genotoxicants using transcriptomic profiling. Here, we summarize the findings of the workgroup on the state of the science regarding the use of transcriptomic biomarkers to identify genotoxic chemicals in vitro and in vivo.

Retail availability of oral nicotine pouches in 3 US cities: A geographic analysis.

Introduction: Sales of oral nicotine pouches (ONPs), including brands such as Zyn, on!, Velo, and Rogue, have risen precipitously in the US. One potential driver of ONP use may be exposure to the products and their marketing in local tobacco retailers. This study examines the prevalence and correlates of ONP availability in a large, representative sample of tobacco retailers in three major US cities.

From "Airway scares me" to "I would say I'm pretty comfortable": quality improvement for reducing time to obtain equipment for adult advanced airway management in a rural emergency department.

Background: Management of the adult airway is one of the most stressful and time-critical procedures in emergency medicine. In the Cowichan District Hospital, a rural hospital in British Columbia, Emergency Department (ED) staff were uncomfortable with acquiring the equipment needed for adult advanced airway management and the mean length of time to acquire the equipment was 319 s. The aim of this quality improvement (QI) project was to decrease the time to obtain the equipment needed for adult advanced airway management by nurses and physicians in the Cowichan District Hospital ED to less than 90 s by May 2023.

Land Use Change Consistently Reduces α- But Not β- and γ-Diversity of Bees.

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e.

The Costs of a Multisectoral Nutrition Program Implemented Through a Poultry Value Chain Platform in Burkina Faso.

Undernutrition in women and young children in Burkina Faso is a critical problem. Egg consumption is low despite many households raising poultry. The Soutenir l'Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l'Élevage des Volailles et Valoriser l'Économie Rurale (SELEVER) project, an integrated agriculture-nutrition intervention, promoted egg consumption and sales to investigate the impact of poultry production on child nutrition.

Development of a Preliminary Patient Safety Classification System for Generative AI.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery but require classification and monitoring of patient safety risks. To address this need, we developed and evaluated a preliminary classification system for categorising generative AI patient safety errors. Our classification system is organised around two AI system stages (input and output) with specific error types by stage.

Exploring adaptive health technology assessment for evaluating 10 cancer interventions: insights and lessons from a pilot study in India.

Background: Health technology assessment (HTA) is a valuable tool for informing the efficient allocation of resources in healthcare. However, the resource-intensive nature of HTA can limit its application, especially in low-resource settings. Adapting HTA processes by assessing the available international evidence offers a pragmatic approach to provide evidence for decision-making where resources are constrained.

Global prioritization schemes vary in their impact on the placement of protected areas.

In response to global declines in biodiversity, many global conservation prioritization schemes were developed to guide effective protected area establishment. Protected area coverage has grown dramatically since the introduction of several high-profile biodiversity prioritization schemes, but the impact of such schemes on protected area establishment has not been evaluated. We used matching methods and a Before-After Control-Impact causal analysis to evaluate the impact of two key prioritization schemes-Biodiversity Hotspots and Last of the Wild-representing examples of the reactive and proactive ends of the prioritization spectrum.

First report of subsp. infecting southern shagbark hickory () in Georgia, USA.

Southern shagbark hickory (Carya carolinae-septentrionalis) is one of several deciduous trees in the family Juglandaceae and genus Carya that are native to North America. Southern shagbark hickory has a restricted distribution to the Southeast U.S.

Patient acceptability of intra-amniotic digoxin versus intracardiac lidocaine for inducing foetal demise prior to second trimester medical abortion: a prospective cohort.

Objective: To compare patient acceptability of inducing foetal demise procedures between intracardiac lidocaine and intra-amniotic digoxin administration prior to second trimester medical abortion.

Methods: We enrolled a prospective cohort of women who received either intra-cardiac lidocaine or intra-amniotic digoxin during second trimester medical abortion at later gestation (20-28 weeks) at our centre between April 2023 and March 2024. Data were collected prospectively using a structured questionnaire.

Low-Intensity Blast Exposure Induces Multifaceted Long-Lasting Anxiety-Related Behaviors in Mice.

Primary blast exposure is a predominant cause of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) among veterans and active-duty military personnel, and affected individuals may develop long-lasting behavioral disturbances that interfere with quality of life. Our prior research with the "Missouri Blast" model demonstrated behavioral changes relevant to deficits in cognitive and affective domains after exposure to low-intensity blast (LIB). In this study, behavioral evaluations were extended to 3 months post-LIB injury using multifaceted conventional and advanced behavioral paradigms.

A retrospective, observational study of real-world clinical data from the Cognitive Function Development Therapy program.

Introduction: Cognitive deficits are common in psychiatric and mental health disorders, making the assessment of cognitive function in mental health treatment an important area of research. Cognitive Function Development Therapy (CFDT) is a novel therapeutic modality designed to enhance cognitive function and regulate the autonomic nervous system through targeted exercises and activities focused on attention networks and memory systems. The therapy is tracked and based on Primary Cognitive Function (PCF) scores.

Genetic variants of accessory proteins and G proteins in human genetic disease.

We present a series of three articles on the genetics and pharmacogenetics of G protein- coupled receptors (GPCR). In the first article, we discuss genetic variants of the G protein subunits and accessory proteins that are associated with human phenotypes; in the second article, we build upon this to discuss "G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) gene variants and human genetic disease" and in the third article, we survey "G protein-coupled receptor pharmacogenomics". In the present article, we review the processes of ligand binding, GPCR activation, inactivation, and receptor trafficking to the membrane in the context of human genetic disease resulting from pathogenic variants of accessory proteins and G proteins.

Treatment Strategies for Intermediate Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS 7-12) Patients: A Systematic Review.

Background: The Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) is used in determining instability in patients with spinal metastases. Intermediate scores of 7 to 12 suggest possible instability, but there are no clear guidelines to address patients with these scores.

Methods: We searched in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for studies that included patient demographics, tumor histology, surgical or radiotherapy management, and outcomes of patients with intermediate SINS.

Perceptions and intentions regarding IQOS among current US adults who use cigarettes and/or electronic nicotine delivery systems.

Introduction: IQOS was sold in the US in 2019-2021 and will likely return in 2024. It is important to anticipate IQOS' market penetration; thus, this study examined US adults' prior awareness and perceptions, intentions to try and reactions to an IQOS reduced-risk exposure statement.

Methods: 61 adults from three US cities were recruited to represent four tobacco use subgroups: current cigarette and never electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use; current cigarette and discontinued ENDS use; current cigarette and ENDS use; and former cigarette use and switched to ENDS.

The Perceived Impact of Global Surgery Engagement on Career Advancement among US Medical Students.

Introduction: There is growing interest among medical institutions to formalize global surgery training. Understanding medical students' perceptions of how global surgery engagement can enhance career advancement is essential for providing appropriate guidance and support for individuals with aspirations in academic global surgery.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study of US-based medical students from 38 participating schools was performed.

Specialty Care Oases: Utilizing Geographic Information Systems to Evaluate Specialty Care Access for Individuals With Down Syndrome.

Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition occurring in about 220,000 individuals in the United States. Previous research showed almost 1 in 5 individuals with Down syndrome in the U.S.