Public attitudes to implementing financial incentives in stopsmoking services in Ireland.

Introduction: Financial incentives improve stop-smoking service outcomes. Views on acceptability can influence implementation success. To inform implementation planning in Ireland, public attitudes on financial incentives to stop smoking were measured.

Nematic Phase of Polar Unsymmetrical Bent-Core Molecules.

In liquid crystalline systems, the presence of polar groups at lateral or terminal positions is fundamentally and technologically important. Bent-core nematics composed of polar molecules with short rigid cores usually exhibit highly disordered mesomorphism with some ordered clusters that favourably nucleate within. Herein, we have systematically designed and synthesized two new series of highly polar bent-core compounds comprised of two unsymmetrical wings, highly electronegative -CN and -NO groups at one end, and flexible alkyl chains at the other end.

Evidence for a High-Valent Iron-Fluoride That Mediates Oxidative C(sp)-H Fluorination.

[Fe(NCCH)(NTB)](OTf) (NTB = tris(2-benzimidazoylmethyl)amine, OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) was reacted with difluoro(phenyl)-λ-iodane (PhIF) in the presence of a variety of saturated hydrocarbons, resulting in the oxidative fluorination of the hydrocarbons in moderate-to-good yields. Kinetic and product analysis point towards a hydrogen atom transfer oxidation prior to fluorine radical rebound to form the fluorinated product. The combined evidence supports the formation of a formally Fe(F) oxidant that performs hydrogen atom transfer followed by the formation of a dimeric μ-F-(Fe) product that is a plausible fluorine atom transfer rebound reagent.

Harmonization and standardization of nucleus pulposus cell extraction and culture methods.

Background: In vitro studies using nucleus pulposus (NP) cells are commonly used to investigate disc cell biology and pathogenesis, or to aid in the development of new therapies. However, lab-to-lab variability jeopardizes the much-needed progress in the field. Here, an international group of spine scientists collaborated to standardize extraction and expansion techniques for NP cells to reduce variability, improve comparability between labs and improve utilization of funding and resources.

Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane Embedded in Porphyrinoids.

We report a two-step approach to obtain synthetically versatile bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) derivatives using Grignard reagents.

XRD and Spectroscopic Investigations of ZIF-Microchannel Glass Plates Composites.

In this study, new composite materials comprising zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) structures and microchannel glass (MCG) plates were fabricated using the hydrothermal method and their morphological and spectral properties were investigated using XRD, SEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. XRD studies of powder samples revealed the presence of an additional phase for a ZIF-8 sample, whereas ZIF-67 samples, which were prepared through two different chemical routes, showed no additional phases. A detailed analysis of the FTIR and micro-Raman spectra of the composite samples revealed the formation of stable ZIF structures inside the macropores of the MCG substrate.

A national cohort study of spiritual and religious practices of older people with intellectual disability.

Spirituality and spiritual support for older people with intellectual disability are deemed important, however little is known about their specific needs. This paper reports for the first time on the religious and spiritual practices of older adults with intellectual disability. A national longitudinal study examined the prevalence of spiritual practices among older people with intellectual disability in the Republic of Ireland.

Communication partner training for healthcare workers engaging with people with aphasia: Enacting Sustainable Development Goal 17 in Austria, Egypt, Greece, India and Serbia.

Purpose: This commentary describes how a grassroot-led partnership initiated by members of the organisations World Federation of NeuroRehabilitation and Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists is addressing the marginalisation of people with aphasia, through education and knowledge exchange related to communication partner training of health professionals.

Result: A partnership between academics and healthcare professionals across Austria, Denmark, Egypt, Ireland, Greece, India, Serbia and the United Kingdom was established in 2020. Through bimonthly online sessions in 2021-2022 a Danish communication partner training program was introduced while six teams adapted and translated the training and its materials to their local contexts.

Simultaneous Hydrogen Bonds with Different Binding Modes: The Acceptor "Rules" but the Donor "Chooses".

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Cristina Trujillo at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Manchester. The image depicts a market run by hydrogen bond acceptors in which hydrogen-bond-donor "customers" are choosing their preferred binding mode "vegetable". Read the full text of the article at 10.

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on nursing: An e-panel discussion from the International Network for Child and Family Centred Care.

Aim: To explore the International Network for Child and Family Centred Care (INCFCC) members' experiences and views on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the nursing workforce.

Background: On the 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. While some countries adopted a herd immunity approach, others imposed stricter measures to reduce the transmission of the virus.

Spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking and chiral segregation in the achiral ferronematic compound DIO.

An achiral compound, DIO, known to exhibit three nematic phases namely N, N and N, is studied by polarizing microscopy and electro-optics for different surface conditions in confinement. The high temperature N phase assigned initially as a conventional nematic phase, shows two additional unusual features: the optical activity and the linear electro-optic response related to the polar nature of this phase. An appearance of chiral domains is explained by the spontaneous symmetry breaking arising from the saddle-splay elasticity and followed by the formation of helical domains of the opposite chirality.

Two-Step Validation Approach for Tools To Study the DNA Repair Enzyme SNM1A.

We report a two-step validation approach to evaluate the suitability of metal-binding groups for targeting DNA damage-repair metalloenzymes using model enzyme SNM1A. A fragment-based screening approach was first used to identify metal-binding fragments suitable for targeting the enzyme. Effective fragments were then incorporated into oligonucleotides using the copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction.

Mitochondrial bioenergetic changes in systemic lupus erythematosus immune cell subsets: Contributions to pathogenesis and clinical applications.

The association of dysregulated metabolism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis has prompted investigations into metabolic rewiring and the involvement of mitochondrial metabolism as a driver of disease through NLRP3 inflammasome activation, disruption of mitochondrial DNA maintenance, and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. The use of Agilent Seahorse Technology to gain functional metabolic insights of selected cell types from SLE patients has identified key parameters that are dysregulated during disease. Mitochondrial functional assessments specifically can detect dysfunction through oxygen consumption rate (OCR), spare respiratory capacity, and maximal respiration measurements, which, when coupled with disease activity scores could show potential as markers of disease activity.

Dynamical Screening of Local Spin Moments at Metal-Molecule Interfaces.

Transition-metal phthalocyanine molecules have attracted considerable interest in the context of spintronics device development due to their amenability to diverse bonding regimes and their intrinsic magnetism. The latter is highly influenced by the quantum fluctuations that arise at the inevitable metal-molecule interface in a device architecture. In this study, we have systematically investigated the dynamical screening effects in phthalocyanine molecules hosting a series of transition-metal ions (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) in contact with the Cu(111) surface.

Controlled degradation of polycaprolactone-based micropillar arrays.

Herein we demonstrate the fabrication of arrays of micropillars, achieved through the combination of direct laser writing and nanoimprint lithography. By combining two diacrylate monomers, polycaprolactone dimethacrylate (PCLDMA) and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), two copolymer formulations that, owing to the varying ratios of the hydrolysable ester functionalities present in the polycaprolactone moiety, can be degraded in the presence of base in a controllable manner. As such, the degradation of the micropillars can be tuned over several days as a function of PCLDMA concentration within the copolymer formulations, and the topography greatly varied over a short space of time, as visualised using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Delivery room glucose to reduce the risk of admission hypoglycemia in preterm infants: a systematic literature review.

Aims: In order to mitigate early hypoglycemia in preterm infants, some clinicians have recently explored interventions such as delivery room commencement of dextrose infusions or delivery room administration of buccal dextrose gel. This review aimed to systematically investigate the literature regarding the provision of delivery room (prior to admission) parenteral glucose as a method to reduce the risk of initial hypoglycemia (measured at the time of NICU admission blood testing) in preterm infants.

Materials And Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines a literature search (May 2022) was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, OpenGrey, and Prospero databases.

On-Surface Synthesis of Polyphenylene Wires Comprising Rigid Aliphatic Bicyclo[1.1.1]Pentane Isolator Units.

Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) motifs are of growing importance to the pharmaceutical industry as sp -rich bioisosteres of benzene rings and as molecular building blocks in materials science.

Contralateral Selectivity of Upper-Limb Motor Pools via Targeted Stimulation of the Cervical Spinal Cord.

Unlabelled: Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) at the cervical level may facilitate improved upper-limb function in those with incomplete tetraplegia. While clinical trials are ongoing, there is still much debate regarding the transmission pathway as well as appropriate stimulation parameters. This study aimed to explore the extent to which cervical tSCS can induce mono-synaptic reflexes in discrete upper-limb motor pools and examine the effects of altering stimulus location and intensity.

When are clients helpful? Capitalising on client involvement in professional service delivery.

Professional service firms apply specialist knowledge to create customised solutions to client problems. In their work, teams of professionals undertake projects in which clients may be closely involved in co-creating solutions. However, we know little about the conditions under which client involvement contributes to better performance.

Photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) based fluorescent probes for cellular imaging and disease therapy.

Typical PeT-based fluorescent probes are multi-component systems where a fluorophore is connected to a recognition/activating group by an unconjugated linker. PeT-based fluorescent probes are powerful tools for cell imaging and disease diagnosis due to their low fluorescence background and significant fluorescence enhancement towards the target. This review provides research progress towards PeT-based fluorescent probes that target cell polarity, pH and biological species (reactive oxygen species, biothiols, biomacromolecules, ) over the last five years.

Macrophage metabolic profile is altered by hydroxyapatite particle size.

Since the recent observation that immune cells undergo metabolic reprogramming upon activation, there has been immense research in this area to not only understand the basis of such changes, but also to exploit metabolic rewiring for therapeutic benefit. In a resting state, macrophages preferentially utilise oxidative phosphorylation to generate energy; however, in the presence of immune cell activators, glycolytic genes are upregulated, and energy is generated through glycolysis. This facilitates the rapid production of biosynthetic intermediates and a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype.

Aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon hydroxylation a formally NiO oxidant.

The reaction of (NMe)[Ni(L)(OAc)] (1[OAc], L = 2,2',2''-nitrilo-tris-(-phenylacetamide); OAc = acetate) with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (-CPBA) resulted in the formation of a self-hydroxylated Ni-phenolate complex, 2, where one of the phenyl groups of L underwent hydroxylation. 2 was characterised by UV-Vis, EPR, and XAS spectroscopies and ESI-MS. 2 decayed to yield a previously characterised Ni-phenolate complex, 3.