Mai mana: Exploring Pacific peoples' experiences of resilience in Aotearoa.

Objectives: Using a multimethod approach, this study sought to identify the contribution of different facets of resilience to Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand's mental health and well-being and to explore the construct of resilience in the light of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Method: Study 1 ( = 88) included a Pacific community sample (67% female, 33% male; = 39 years, range = 19-80 years). Participants completed a survey measuring personal, spiritual, family and community resilience, well-being, Pacific identity, and mental distress.

Digestion of food proteins: the role of pepsin.

The nutritive value of a protein is determined not only by its amino acid composition, but also by its digestibility in the gastrointestinal tract. The interaction between proteins and pepsin in the gastric stage is the first step and plays an important role in protein hydrolysis. Moreover, it affects the amino acid release rates and the allergenicity of the proteins.

Does Self-Compassion Expressive Writing Benefit People With an Ostomy? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a self-compassion expressive writing activity could improve psychological well-being in people with an ostomy, as assessed by changes in body image distress, ostomy-specific quality of life (QOL), self-compassion, and dispositional disgust.

Design: Randomized controlled trial design was used.

Subjects And Setting: The sample comprised 175 English-speaking patients over 18 years of age with a fecal or urinary ostomy; all participants resided in Australia and New Zealand.

Sensory processing patterns and their relationships to coping and occupational engagement in mental health service users.

Introduction: Mental health service users often have sensory processing difficulties hampering their ability to cope with mental health problems and occupational engagement. However, there is little knowledge of sensory processing and its relation to these factors. Hence, this current study aims to investigate sensory processing patterns in relation to coping and occupational engagement for the target group.

Characterization of academic output (h-index) by Australian urologists according to gender and rurality.

Background: As the number of practicing female urologists in Australia continues to increase alongside the academic development of the specialty, it is essential to examine how gender and rurality impact academic performance and expectations. This study aims to assess differences in h-index related to both gender and rurality among Australian urologists.

Methods: We identified all active, practicing Australian urologists through the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) membership database.

Optimizing LiNO Conversion through a Defective Carbon Matrix as Catalytic Current Collectors for Highly Durable and Fast-Charging Li Metal Batteries.

Lithium nitrate (LiNO) stands as an effective electrolyte additive, mitigating the degradation of Li metal anodes by forming a LiN-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). However, its conversion kinetics are impeded by energy-consuming eight-electron transfer reactions. Herein, an isoreticular metal-organic framework-8-derived carbon is incorporated into the carbon cloth (RMCC) as a catalytic current collector to regulate the LiNO conversion kinetics and boost LiN generation inside the SEI.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of African Parents in New Zealand Towards the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine.

Introduction Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-documented cause of cervical cancer, leading to significant mortality that may be decreased through screening and the administration of HPV vaccination. Our understanding of New Zealand immigrants' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the HPV vaccine is limited. Preliminary research shows that immigrants have low knowledge and negative perceptions of the HPV vaccine and that cervical cancer and HPV awareness was low among African parents.

Interaction of human gut microbiota and local immune system in progression of colorectal adenoma (MIMICA-1): a protocol for a prospective, observational cohort study.

Introduction: The current understanding of colorectal carcinogenesis is based on the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, where genetics, intestinal microbiota changes and local immunity shifts seem to play the key roles. Despite the emerging evidence of dysbiotic intestinal state and immune-cell infiltration changes in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, early and advanced adenoma as precursors of colorectal cancer, and carcinoma as the following progression, are rather less studied. The newly colon-site adapted AI-based analysis of immune infiltrates is able to predict long-term outcomes of colon carcinoma.

Emulation of the subjective experience of visual dorsal stream dysfunction: a description of three in depth case studies.

These case studies explore the subjective visual experiences of individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI), specifically dorsal stream dysfunction (DSD) characterized by simultanagnosia. Through three in-depth case studies, this work documents the challenges these individuals face when navigating cluttered environments. The individuals were asked to describe their visual experiences while watching videos of varying complexity, with the future aim of creating a simulation of simultanagnosia.

Land use influences the faecal glucocorticoid metabolites of multiple species across trophic levels.

Human landscape modification is amongst the greatest drivers of biodiversity loss. Measuring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) in wildlife is of great value to measure the impact of human activities on local biodiversity because FGM offer a non-invasive way of measuring an animal's response to changes in its environment in the form of adrenocortical activity. Here, we measure the concentration of FGM in three native Australian mammal species belonging to different trophic levels: the Tasmanian devil () and the spotted-tailed quoll (), both carnivores, and an omnivore that is primarily an arboreal folivore, the brushtail possum (), and compare the FGM concentrations across three major land uses: agricultural, plantation and National Parks.

Consuming and Thinking About Nangs: A Survey of Nitrous Oxide Use, Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Non-medical use of nitrous oxide (NO) is becoming increasingly popular globally, yet little data exists regarding NO in Aotearoa New Zealand. We aimed to explore patterns of use and harm in those who consume NO in Aotearoa, and related knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of those with and without NO experience. A convenience sample of people with NO experience ( = 466) and without ( = 510) completed an online survey about NO.

Slipping Through the Cracks? Concussion Management in Aotearoa New Zealand Secondary Schools.

Background: Concussion-related guidelines appear to be inconsistently implemented in secondary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. The purpose of this qualitative Participatory Action Research study was to describe key school stakeholders' perceptions of their current concussion management processes.

Methods: Seventeen focus groups, two dyad, and nine individual interviews were conducted with stakeholders (n = 95) from six secondary schools and healthcare clinics, exploring their perceptions of barriers and facilitators to concussion management.

Expression of MMP1, MMP3, and TIMP1 in intervertebral discs under simulated overload and microgravity conditions.

Objective: This study aims to investigate changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) levels in the intervertebral discs of New Zealand white rabbits under simulated overload and microgravity conditions, focusing on the expression of MMP1, MMP3, and TIMP1. The findings aim to provide a theoretical foundation for preventing and delaying lumbar disc degeneration in these environments.

Methods: Overload was simulated using an animal centrifuge, and microgravity was mimicked through tail suspension.

Auditing Cause of Death Reporting to Australia and New Zealand's Dialysis and Transplant Registry: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Aim: National data registries provide a valuable source of data for epidemiological research but may be subject to inaccuracies. Whilst studies have compared agreement between cause of death (COD) data from Australia and New Zealand's dialysis and transplant registry (ANZDATA) to other databases, no studies have manually compared agreement with electronic medical records (EMR). This study aimed to assess the agreement between COD for dialysis patients in the Western Sydney renal service according to ANZDATA and EMR.

Vitreomacular traction - a review.

Vitreomacular traction (VMT) is characterised by abnormal adhesion of the posterior cortical vitreous with the macula causing distortion of the foveal contour and associated with symptoms of reduction in visual acuity and/or metamorphopsia. This review article explores the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic and treatment options for VMT. Advances in imaging modalities such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) have revolutionized the understanding of the vitreoretinal interface abnormalities and helps in monitoring the disease progression.

Co-delivery of IL-1Ra and SOX9 via AAV inhibits inflammation and promotes cartilage repair in surgically induced osteoarthritis animal models.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent joint disorder, can lead to disability, with no effective treatment available. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a crucial role in the progression of OA, and its receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), a natural IL-1 inhibitor, represents a promising therapeutic target by obstructing the IL-1 signaling pathway. This study delivered IL-1Ra via adeno-associated virus (AAV), a gene therapy vector enabling long-term protein expression, to treat knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in animal models.

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries - the TISP dataset.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries.

Investigation of the sclerosing effect of increasing doses of polidocanol on pulmonary vessels: Experimental study.

Background: Percutaneous sclerotherapy as endovascular treatment may cause severe complications beside the target area. Pulmonary embolism and thrombosis may occur. In this regard, our study aimed to reveal whether increasing systemic doses of polidocanol affects the coronary or pulmonary alveolar levels.

A review of Returned and Services League venues operating electronic gambling machines in Victoria, Australia and the level of funding contributed to veterans.

Objective: Globally, funding 'good causes' is a legitimation tactic for gambling operations. This research aimed to determine if an Australian system allowing tax concessions to not-for-profits (NFPs) meets its primary intention of funding community purpose.

Methods: Not-for-profit (NFP) venues operating electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in the state of Victoria must submit records to the gambling regulator showing contribution to community purposes.

Antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercise intervention led by midwives in England to reduce postnatal urinary incontinence: APPEAL feasibility and pilot randomised controlled cluster trial.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of an intervention of midwifery support for antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) to prevent postnatal urinary incontinence (UI).

Design: Feasibility and pilot cluster randomised controlled trial. Clusters were community midwifery teams.

How did the depression and anxiety levels of older New Zealanders change during the COVID-19 pandemic?

There has been widespread concern about the mental health impact of the global COVID-19 outbreak. Fears have been raised that depression and anxiety among older people may have increased in the pandemic, and that adverse health behaviours, such as increased alcohol use and decreased physical activity, may have contributed to the mental health decline. This study aimed to examine changes in depression, anxiety, alcohol use and physical activity scores of people aged 55 and older in New Zealand over the initial months of the pandemic.

Could entrustable professional activities support assessment in optometric clinical education in Australia and New Zealand?

Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are increasingly being adopted as an assessment tool by medicine and other health professions in a bid to enhance competency-based health professional education. EPAs are well-defined professional activities that can be entrusted to students to perform with varying levels of supervision. They were introduced to overcome some of the limitations of traditional assessment methods of competency such as individual skills assessment or Direct Observation of Procedures and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.

Proteomic characterization and comparison of the infective and adult life stage secretomes from Necator americanus and Ancylostoma ceylanicum.

More than 470 million people globally are infected with the hookworms Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Necator americanus, resulting in an annual loss of 2.1 to 4 million disability-adjusted-life-years. Current infection management approaches are limited by modest drug efficacy, the costs associated with frequent mass drug administration campaigns, and the risk of reinfection and burgeoning drug resistance.