Size Influence of Laminated Bamboo on Tensile Mechanical Properties with the Consideration of Density.

Laminated bamboo (LB), as a novel eco-friendly composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio, has garnered increasing interest. However, there is a gap in comprehending the impact of size on the tensile properties of LB, particularly tensile strength and modulus. In contrast with conventional materials such as concrete and wood, which have specified specimen sizes and size effect factors to address performance variances linked to size, LB lacks such standards and references.

Citric Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate as an Alternative Carbon Dioxide Source for Mosquito Surveillance.

Most mosquito surveillance programs rely on traps baited with carbon dioxide (CO) to attract host-seeking mosquitoes. The source of CO, traditionally dry ice or gas cylinders, poses operational challenges, especially in remote locations. CO production from citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO) using low-cost intravenous fluid bags ('acid traps') was evaluated in laboratory experiments.

Harnessing Molecular Insights for Translational Impact: Highlights from the Special Issue Titled "New Insights in Translational Bioinformatics".

The field of translational bioinformatics is rapidly evolving, driving the convergence of molecular sciences and computational methods with their applications in industrial and clinical practice [...

Jun, an Oncological Foe or Friend?

Jun/JUN is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein and a prototypic member of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) family of transcription factors that can act as homo- or heterodimers, interact with DNA elements and co-factors, and regulate gene transcription. Jun is expressed by both immune and inflammatory cells. Jun is traditionally seen as an oncoprotein that regulates processes involved in transformation and oncogenesis in human tumours.

Evaluation of Faecal Microbiota Following Probiotics in Infants of Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Trial: Protocol for Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial.

(1) Background: The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is rising globally. The current evidence indicates that GDM, especially in conjunction with maternal overweight, can alter the composition of infants' gut microbiota, potentially increasing the risk of inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurodevelopmental issues later in life. Probiotic supplantation early in life might establish eubiosis and mitigate future complications.

An Addendum to the Chemiosmotic Theory of Mitochondrial Activity: The Role of RNA as a Proton Sink.

Mitochondrial ATP synthesis is driven by harnessing the electrochemical gradient of protons (proton motive force) across the mitochondrial inner membrane via the process of chemiosmosis. While there is consensus that the proton gradient is generated by components of the electron transport chain, the mechanism by which protons are supplied to ATP synthase remains controversial. As opposed to a global coupling model whereby protons diffuse into the intermembrane space, a localised coupling model predicts that protons remain closely associated with the lipid membrane prior to interaction with ATP synthase.

Harnessing Non-Antibiotic Strategies to Counter Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Pathogens with Special Reference to Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Coatings.

Antimicrobial resistance is a critical global challenge in the 21st century, validating Sir Alexander Fleming's warning about the misuse of antibiotics leading to resistant microbes. With a dwindling arsenal of effective antibiotics, it is imperative to concentrate on alternative antimicrobial strategies. Previous studies have not comprehensively discussed the advantages and limitations of various strategies, including bacteriophage therapy, probiotics, immunotherapies, photodynamic therapy, essential oils, nanoparticles and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) within a single review.

The Wildcat That Lives in Me: A Review on Free-Roaming Cats () in Brazil, Focusing on Research Priorities, Management, and Their Impacts on Cat Welfare.

Domestic cats () currently occupy the 38th place in the Global Invasive Species Database. Free-roaming cats potentially have broad-ranging impacts on wildlife, occupying most terrestrial environments globally as house pets, strays, or feral animals. In Australia, for example, cats are responsible for the decline in many vertebrate populations and extinction of several native mammals.

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in Urothelial Cancer: Current Status and Future Directions.

: The role of molecular imaging in urothelial cancer is less defined than other cancers, and its utility remains controversial due to limitations such as high urinary tracer excretion, complicating primary tumour assessment in the bladder and upper urinary tract. This review explores the current landscape of PET imaging in the clinical management of urothelial cancer, with a special emphasis on potential future advancements including emerging novel non-F FDG PET agents, PET radiopharmaceuticals, and PET-MRI applications. : We conducted a comprehensive literature search in the PubMed database, using keywords such as "PET", "PET-CT", "PET-MRI", "FDG PET", "Urothelial Cancer", and "Theranostics".

Symptoms and Side Effects of Bacille Calmette-Guerin Therapy for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer as Reported by Patients: A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Knowledge of the symptoms and side effects (SSEs) of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is critical when establishing selecting appropriate therapies for patients. The aim of our study was to systematically review the common patient-reported SSEs associated with BCG-based and other intravesical chemotherapy treatment options for NMIBC.

Methods: A systematic search of AMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge, and Scopus was conducted from inception to July 2024.

Biography Writing in the Pediatric Palliative Care Context: Review and Feasibility Data.

Background: Biography writing services are increasingly being used with adult palliative care patients, helping them document their stories in a way that provides meaning for themselves, family, and friends. However, the feasibility of applying a biography program to a pediatric palliative care context is less well known.

Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted, drawing on existing adult biography programs, while noting differences between the pediatric and adult contexts.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Advances of RNAs in Precision Medicine of Gastrointestinal Tumors.

Gastrointestinal tumors present a significant challenge for precision medicine due to their complexity, necessitating the development of more specific diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents. Recent advances have positioned coding and non-coding RNAs as emerging biomarkers for these malignancies, detectable by liquid biopsies, and as innovative therapeutic agents. Many RNA-based therapeutics, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), have entered clinical trials or are available on the market.

Stem Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Comparison of the Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Neural Stem Cells, and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Background/objectives: (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a debilitating, incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor neuron death in the spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. With an incidence rate of about 4.42 cases per 100,000 people annually, ALS severely impacts motor function and quality of life, causing progressive muscle atrophy, spasticity, paralysis, and eventually death.

A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Rural Primary Healthcare Professionals' Capacity for Disaster Health Management Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Rural areas face additional challenges in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. This study aimed to understand how rural primary healthcare professionals (PHCPs) perceive their roles, involvement, and capacity in disaster health management.

Methods: For this qualitative descriptive research, semi-structured interviews were carried out with convenience and purposive samples of rural PHCPs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Snorkelling and Breath-Hold Diving Fatalities in Australia-A Review of 317 Deaths.

As snorkelling and breath-hold diving are conducted in a potentially hostile environment by participants with varying skills and health, fatalities occur. In this study, snorkelling and breath-hold diving fatalities were investigated in Australia from 2000 to 2021 to identify causes and countermeasures. The Australasian Diving Safety Foundation database and the National Coronial Information System were searched to identify snorkelling/breath-hold diving deaths from 2000 to 2021.

Regional Variations in the Prevalence of Risk Factors and Non-Communicable Diseases in Papua New Guinea: A Scoping Review.

Often referred to as 'the last unknown', Papua New Guinea's largely unexplored environments across its four distinct regions, the Highlands, New Guinea Islands, Momase, and Southern, exhibit remarkable diversity. Understanding this diversity is significant in contextualising the risk factors associated with developing non-communicable diseases. This review aims to map and summarise the literature to provide region-specific prevalence data for risk factors and non-communicable diseases.

Physicians' Intentions to Recommend Influenza Vaccine: A Multi-Centered Hospital-Based Study Using the Theory of Planned Behavior in Bangladesh.

Background: Influenza remains a significant public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Bangladesh, where vaccine uptake remains low despite the substantial disease burden. Physicians play a vital role in promoting vaccination, yet their intentions and influencing factors are not well understood.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from June to October 2022 across four tertiary-level hospitals in Bangladesh using a questionnaire grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Unravelling Factors Shaping International Students' Learning and Mental Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Review.

The international tertiary education sector was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the risk of negative learning and psychosocial experiences. Most international students who remained in the host countries demonstrated admirable resilience and adaptability during those challenging times. An integrative review of factors shaping international students' learning and mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted.

Do Academic Libraries Contribute to Students' and Communities' Wellbeing?: A Scoping Review.

: Academic libraries offer a range of activities and initiatives for their students and community users. However, wellbeing, as a concept in academic libraries, is not very well defined and is poorly understood. The objective of this scoping review was to examine the role of academic libraries in student and community wellbeing, identify the various kinds of activities and initiatives that they carry out to address their wellbeing, and uncover gaps that might require further research.

Exploring Therapists' Experiences of an Educational Website to Support Telehealth Delivery of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy.

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is an evidence-based intervention for arm recovery after acquired brain injury. Clinician knowledge, time and confidence in delivering CIMT are established barriers to the routine use of CIMT in practice. CIMT delivery via telehealth is one option to help overcome these barriers.

A Quantitative Analysis of Internal and External Loads in Aviation Firefighting Using a Simulated Scenario.

Background/objectives: Aviation firefighting is a strenuous occupation that requires individuals to engage in intense physical activity amidst elevated stress levels and extreme environmental conditions. Despite this, there has been limited investigation regarding the internal and external loads associated with aviation firefighting tasks, which include hose dragging, stair climbing, casualty evacuation, and fire extinguishing in airports and aircrafts. The aim of this study was to examine the internal and external loads placed on aviation firefighters.

Reply to Troisi et al. Comment on "Cabrera-Aguas, M.; Watson, S.L. Updates in Diagnostic Imaging for Infectious Keratitis: A Review. 2023, , 3358".

We appreciate the interest of Troisi and his colleagues [...

The safety and efficacy of cannabinoids for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There has been a global increase in the use of cannabinoids as a treatment for mental health (MH) and substance use disorders (SUD). In 2016, an Australian government-funded review found that although medicinal cannabinoids accounted for a small reduction in MH symptoms, the results varied according to study design. There has since been a rise in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) aiming to examine the efficacy of cannabinoids for the treatment of MH and SUD.

Ten pressure points in primary care during COVID-19: findings from an international narrative review.

Background: Strong primary care (PC) services are the foundation of high-performing health care systems and can support effective responses to public health emergencies. Primary care practitioners (PCPs) and PC services played crucial roles in supporting global health system responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these contributions have come at a cost, impacting on PC services and affecting patient care.

Development of a checklist for cognitive assessment requirements (CARE) based on a Delphi consensus study.

Situational factors can influence cognitive performance and should be considered for conducting cognitive assessments. The objective of this project was to develop a checklist for Cognitive Assessment Requirements (CARE) to identify these situational factors before conducting cognitive assessments and account for them. This study employed a four-round Delphi approach involving 22 experts to identify situational factors that can impact cognitive assessment results.