A qualitative interview study of care home managers' experiences of medicines optimisation for residents with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To explore care home managers' views and experiences of optimising medicines use for residents with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design, Setting And Participants: A descriptive exploratory qualitative study using semistructured interviews (conducted via telephone or online videoconferencing platform), with care home managers across Northern Ireland, purposively sampled from care homes that provided care for residents with dementia. Care home managers were asked to describe their experiences of accessing primary healthcare services (such as those provided by general practitioners and community pharmacists), how medicines use by residents with dementia was affected by the pandemic, and what they had learnt from their experiences.

Feasibility and Challenges of Pyeloureteral Magnetic Anastomosis Device in Domestic Pigs: A Stepwise Approach with Extended Observation.

Objective:  The pyeloureteral anastomosis remains the most challenging part of pyeloplasty. A purpose-built anastomotic device could simplify this step and potentially improve outcomes. The concept of a pyeloureteral magnetic anastomosis device (PUMA) was proven in minipigs, but only in short term.

Foundational guidelines for enhancing neurotechnology research and development through end-user involvement.

Neurotechnologies are increasingly becoming integrated with our everyday lives, our bodies and our mental states. As the popularity and impact of neurotechnology grows, so does our responsibility to ensure we understand its particular implications on its end users, as well as broader ethical and societal implications. Enabling end-users and other stakeholders to participate in the development of neurotechnology, even at its earliest stages of conception, will help us better navigate our design around these serious considerations, and deliver more impactful technologies.

Crossing the streams: Improving data quality and integration across the One Health genomics continuum with data standards and implementation strategies.

The Canadian Genomics Research and Development Initiative for Antimicrobial Resistance (GRDI-AMR) uses a genomics-based approach to understand how health care, food production and the environment contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Integrating genomics contextual data streams across the One Health continuum is challenging because of the diversity in data scope, content and structure. To better enable data harmonization for analyses, a contextual data standard was developed.

Dissociation of hydrogen and formation of water at the (010) and (111) surfaces of orthorhombic FeNbO4.

The orthorhombic structure of FeNbO4, where the Fe and Nb cations are distributed randomly over the octahedral 4c sites, has shown excellent promise as an anode material in solid oxide fuel cells. We have used DFT+U-D2 calculations to explore the adsorption and dissociation of H2 molecules and the formation reaction of water at the (010) and (111) surfaces. Simulations of the surface properties confirmed that the bandgaps are significantly reduced compared to the bulk material.

Perturbing Pentalene: Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity in a Non-alternant Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon and BN-heteroanalogues.

Pentalene (C8H6) and NN- and BB-bridged heterocyclic analogues (BN)4H6, derived by replacement of CC pairs with BN, are taken as  paradigms for tuning of ring-current (anti)aromaticity by variation of π charge, electronegativity and substitution pattern.  Ab initio calculation of maps for the π current density induced in these model systems by a perpendicular external magnetic field exhibits the full range of tropicity, from diatropic aromatic to nonaromatic to paratropic antiaromatic, with a ready rationalisation in terms of an orbital model.  Further calculations on systems of varying charge in which these motifs are embedded in extended PAH systems with naphthalene and phenanthrene 'clamps' show promise for switching between current patterns and related  opto-electronic properties.

Exploring person-centred practice.

Person-centred practice offers an approach to healthcare provision that prioritises the personhood of individuals. This means that nurses' ethical and professional values underpin their approaches to care, where each person and their rights, relationships and dignity are respected. For nurses, the primary intention of person-centred practice is to contribute to a positive care experience for the people in their care.

Detoxome Capacity of the Adult Rumen Fluke Extends into Its Secreted Extracellular Vesicles.

Helminth parasites have long adapted to survive hostile host environments and can likely adapt against the chemical anthelmintic challenge. One proposed adaptation route is via Phase I and II xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs). For successful Helminth pharmacotherapy discovery programs, a working understanding of Helminth-derived chemical detoxification, the Helminth detoxome, is a must.

Disparities in menstrual bleeding management during acute venous thromboembolism treatment: A review of UK practice and a call for clinical studies.

Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a significant clinical burden for premenopausal individuals treated with anticoagulation for acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). Despite its prevalence, HMB management remains poorly studied, with wide variation in clinical practice.

Objectives: The current study aimed to explore current UK practices in managing HMB in anticoagulated individuals and identify areas requiring clinical research to address disparities.

Multi-region nomogram for predicting central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma using multimodal imaging: A multicenter study.

Background And Objective: Central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is associated with high recurrence rate and low survival in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, there is no satisfactory model to predict CLNM in PTC. This study aimed to integrate PTC deep learning feature based on ultrasound (US) images, fat radiomics features based on computed tomography (CT) images and clinical characteristics to construct a multimodal and multi-region nomogram (MMRN) for predicting the CLNM in PTC.

Easily Water-Synthesisable Iron-Chloranilate Frameworks as High Energy and High-Power Cathodes for Sustainable Alkali-Ion Batteries.

Achieving high battery performance from low-cost, easily synthesisable electrode materials is crucial for advancing energy storage technologies. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) combining inexpensive transition metals and organic ligands are promising candidates for high-capacity cathodes. Iron-chloranilate-water frameworks are herein reported to be produced in aqueous media under mild conditions.

Cognitive, Behavioral and Educational Outcomes in Children Aged 5-11 Years With Spina Bifida in Northern Ireland.

Introduction: While improved medical and surgical care for children with pina bifida has improved their survival, some may have lower cognitive, behavioral and educational performance. The paper assesses the effect of spina bifida on cognitive, behavioral, and educational outcomes in 5-11 year olds.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used where data were collected from parents/guardians and teachers using Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, second edition (BRIEF2), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Teacher Academic Attainment Scale (TAAS).

A robust auto-contouring and data augmentation pipeline for adaptive MRI-guided radiotherapy of pancreatic cancer with a limited dataset.

This study aims to develop and evaluate a fast and robust deep learningbased auto-segmentation approach for organs at risk in MRI-guided radiotherapy of pancreatic cancer to overcome the problems of time-intensive manual contouring in online adaptive workflows. The research focuses on implementing novel data augmentation techniques to address the challenges posed by limited datasets. Approach: This study was conducted in two phases.

Synthesis and Reactivity of Six-Membered Cyclic Diaryl λ3-Bromanes and λ3-Chloranes.

Despite the remarkable advancements in hypervalent iodine chemistry, exploration of bromine and chlorine analogues remains in its infancy due to their difficult synthesis. Herein, we introduce six-membered cyclic λ3-bromanes and λ3-chloranes. Through single-crystal X-ray structural analyses and conformational studies, we delineate the crucial bonding patterns pivotal for the thermodynamic stability of these compounds.

Permeability Benchmarking: Guidelines for Comparing , , and Measurements.

Permeability is a measure of the degree to which cells can transport molecules across biological barriers. Units of permeability are distance per unit time (typically cm/s), where accurate measurements are needed to define drug delivery in homeostasis and to model dysfunction occurring during disease. This perspective offers a set of community-led guidelines to benchmark permeability data across multidisciplinary approaches and different biological contexts.

Has COVID-19 affected the publication productivity of neurosurgeons in UK and Republic of Ireland? A bibliometric analysis.

Background: Our aim was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the publication productivity of neurosurgeons in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Methods: Using bibliometric data we quantified and analysed the academic output of neurosurgeons in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland, between two time periods i.e.

Large-scale evaluation of outcomes after a genetic diagnosis in children with severe developmental disorders.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate outcomes for clinical management after a genetic diagnosis from the Deciphering Developmental Disorders study.

Methods: Individuals in the Deciphering Developmental Disorders study who had a pathogenic/likely pathogenic genotype in the DECIPHER database were selected for inclusion ( = 5010). Clinical notes from regional clinical genetics services notes were reviewed to assess predefined clinical outcomes relating to interventions, prenatal choices, and information provision.

The Unusual Mesophases and Properties Exhibited by a Family of Glycosteroids.

In this article we describe research on the synthesis and characterization of a family of "Janus" amphiphiles composed of disaccharide head groups and alkaloid units joined together via a methylene linker, and bearing a lateral aliphatic chain of varying length. The condensed phases formed by self-organization of the products as a function of temperature were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal polarized light microscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering, allied with computational modelling and simulations. Structural studies on heating specimens from the solid showed that some homologues exhibited lamellar, columnar and bicontinuous mesophases, whereas the same homologues revealed different phase sequences on cooling from the amorphous liquid.

Hydride Rebound: A Frustrated Lewis Pair (FLP)-Type Cooperative Mechanism for H2 Activation by a Potassium Aluminyl Compound.

Combining experiment and theory, the mechanisms of H2 activation by the potassium-bridged aluminyl dimer K2[Al(NON)]2 (NON = 4,5-bis(2,6-diisopropylanilido)-2,7-di-tertbutyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene) and its monomeric K+-sequestered counterpart have been investigated. These systems show diverging reactivity towards the activation of dihydrogen, with the dimeric species undergoing formal oxidative addition of H2 at each Al centre under ambient conditions, and the monomer proving to be inert to dihydrogen addition. Noting that this K+ dependence is inconsistent with classical models of single-centre reactivity for carbene-like Al(I) species, we rationalize these observations instead by a cooperative frustrated Lewis pair (FLP)-type mechanism (for the dimer) in which the aluminium centre acts as the Lewis base and the K+ centres as Lewis acids.

Generative adversarial networks with fully connected layers to denoise PPG signals.

Objective: The detection of arterial pulsating signals at the skin periphery with Photoplethysmography (PPG) are easily distorted by motion artifacts. This work explores the alternatives to the aid of PPG reconstruction with movement sensors (accelerometer and/or gyroscope) which to date have demonstrated the best pulsating signal reconstruction.

Approach: A generative adversarial network with fully connected layers (FC-GAN) is proposed for the reconstruction of distorted PPG signals.

Automated system for diagnosing pulmonary fibrosis using crackle analysis in recorded lung sounds based on iterative envelope mean fractal dimension filter.

Patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) often experience long waits before getting a correct diagnosis, and this delay in reaching specialized care is associated with increased mortality, regardless of the severity of the disease. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of PF can potentially extend life expectancy and maintain a better quality of life. Crackles present in the recorded lung sounds may be crucial for the early diagnosis of PF.

Electrical Impedance Tomography meets Reduced Order Modelling: a framework for faster and more reliable electrical conductivity estimations.

Objective: Inclusion of individualised electrical conductivities of head tissues is crucial for the accuracy of electrical source imaging techniques based on electro/magnetoencephalography and the efficacy of transcranial electrical stimulation. Parametric electrical impedance tomography (pEIT) is a method to cheaply and non-invasively estimate them using electrode arrays on the scalp to apply currents and measure the resulting potential distribution. Conductivities are then estimated by iteratively fitting a forward model to the measurements, incurring a prohibitive computational cost that is generally lowered at the expense of accuracy.

Diagnosing anaemia via smartphone colorimetry of the eye in a population of pregnant women.

Objective Screening for disease using a smartphone camera is an emerging tool for conditions such as jaundice and anaemia, which are associated with a colour change (yellowing in jaundice; pallor in anaemia) of the external tissues. Based on this, we aimed to test a technique to non-invasively screen for anaemia in a population highly affected by anaemia: pregnant women in India. In this group, anaemia can have severe health consequences for both the mother and child.

Systematic review of the application of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation and Oxford classification in estimating prognosis in IgA Nephropathy.

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis in the world and is an important cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. Outcomes are heterogeneous, and accurate risk stratification is important to identify the highest risk individuals for treatment and to help prevent disease progression. The Oxford classification (OC) is an internationally adopted standard for renal biopsy reporting in IgAN, which measures the degree of histological abnormalities and predicts prognosis.

Encapsulation of astilbin in zein nanoparticles with fructo-oligosaccharides and caseinate as costabilizers: Formation, stability, bioavailability, and antioxidant capacity.

Zein-based nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable attention as potential delivery systems for bioactive compounds. However, their application has been limited by poor stability and redispersibility. In this study, we addressed these challenges by fabricating zein nanocarriers using branching structural fructo-oligosaccharides (P-FOS) and sodium caseinate (NaCas) as costabilizers.