Resonant Young's Slit Interferometer for Sensitive Detection of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers.

The detection of low-molecular-weight biomarkers is essential for diagnosing and managing various diseases, including neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. A biomarker's low molecular weight is a challenge for label-free optical modalities, as the phase change they detect is directly proportional to the mass bound on the sensor's surface. To address this challenge, we used a resonant Young's slit interferometer geometry and implemented several innovations, such as phase noise matching and optimisation of the fringe spacing, to maximise the signal-to-noise ratio.

Environmental Performance, Financial Constraints, and Tax Avoidance Practices: Insights from FTSE All-Share Companies.

Through its initiative known as the Climate Change Act (2008), the Government of the United Kingdom encourages corporations to enhance their environmental performance with the significant aim of reducing targeted greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. Previous research has predominantly assessed this encouragement favourably, suggesting that improved environmental performance bolsters governmental efforts to protect the environment and fosters commendable corporate governance practices among companies. Studies indicate that organisations exhibiting strong corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, or high levels of environmental performance often engage in lower occurrences of tax avoidance.

Modelling Peroxisomal Disorders in Zebrafish.

Peroxisomes are ubiquitous, dynamic, oxidative organelles with key functions in cellular lipid metabolism and redox homeostasis. They have been linked to healthy ageing, neurodegeneration, cancer, the combat of pathogens and viruses, and infection and immune responses. Their biogenesis relies on several peroxins (encoded by genes), which mediate matrix protein import, membrane assembly, and peroxisome multiplication.

Osteopontin as a Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a sialylated phosphoprotein highly expressed in atherosclerosis and upregulated in settings of both acute and chronic inflammation. It is hypothesised that plasma levels of OPN may correlate with the presence of coronary artery disease, "CAD". This offers potential as a point-of-care testing biomarker for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and prognosis.

Modulation of Stemness and Differentiation Regulators by Valproic Acid in Medulloblastoma Neurospheres.

Changes in epigenetic processes such as histone acetylation are proposed as key events influencing cancer cell function and the initiation and progression of pediatric brain tumors. Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug that acts partially by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs) and could be repurposed as an epigenetic anticancer therapy. Here, we show that VPA reduced medulloblastoma (MB) cell viability and led to cell cycle arrest.

Investigating the Reliability of Shore Hardness in the Design of Procedural Task Trainers.

The haptic fidelity of biomimetic materials used in the design of procedural task trainers is of growing interest to the medical community. Shore hardness has been proposed as a method for assessing tissue biomechanics and replicating the results as a way to increase the fidelity of biomimetics to tissues. However, there is limited research on the reliability of human tissue measurements using Shore scales.

Synthesizing the Evidence Base to Enhance Coordination between Humanitarian Mine Action and Emergency Care for Casualties of Explosive Ordnance and Explosive Weapons: A Scoping Review.

Background: Humanitarian mine action (HMA) stakeholders have an organized presence with well-resourced medical capability in many conflict and post-conflict settings. Humanitarian mine action has the potential to positively augment local trauma care capacity for civilian casualties of explosive ordnance (EO) and explosive weapons (EWs). Yet at present, few strategies exist for coordinated engagement between HMA and the health sector to support emergency care system strengthening to improve outcomes among EO/EW casualties.

Fabrication with Characterization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Transistor (CNT-TFT) by Spin Coating Method for Flat Panel Display.

Background: Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) are increasingly prevalent electrical components in display products, ranging from smartphones to diagonal flat panel TVs. The limitations in existing TFT technologies, such as high-temperature processing, carrier mobility, lower ON/OFF ratio, device mobility, and thermal stability, result in the search for new semiconductor materials with superior properties.

Objective: The main objective of this present work is to fabrícate the efficient Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Transistor (TFT) for flat panel display.

The Kidney-Immune-Brain Axis: The Role of Inflammation in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Stroke in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Cardiovascular diseases such as stroke are a major cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The underlying mechanisms connecting CKD and cardiovascular disease are yet to be fully elucidated, but inflammation is proposed to play an important role based on genetic association studies, studies of inflammatory biomarkers, and clinical trials of anti-inflammatory drug targets. There are multiple sources of both endogenous and exogenous inflammation in CKD, including increased production and decreased clearance of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, metabolic acidosis, chronic and recurrent infections, dialysis access, changes in adipose tissue metabolism, and disruptions in intestinal microbiota.

Sex-Specific Clinical and Genetic Factors Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Females with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy present at a more advanced stage of the disease and have a higher risk of heart failure and death. The factors behind these differences are unclear. We aimed to investigate sex-related differences in clinical and genetic factors affecting adverse outcomes in the Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry.

The use of rehabilitation beds following hip fracture leads to an increased length of stay.

The aim of this paper is to identify if there is a difference in length of stay following hip fractures when using rehabilitation beds. Prospective data was collected on all hip fracture admissions in patients over 50 years from May 2016 to February 2018 from ISD NHS Scotland to identify length of stay. It was found that patients discharged home via rehabilitation wards were less likely to have returned to their own home by 30 days post admission and were also significantly more likely to stay in hospital for 40 days or more when compared to patients discharged directly home.

1990-2041 Global burden of Burkitt lymphoma with 20 years forecast: A systematic analysis using the global burden disease of study of 2021.

Background: To investigate the trends in Burkitt lymphoma incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years, considering sex and age, from 1990 to 2021, with a 20-year forecast.

Method: Data regarding Burkitt lymphoma were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease study for the year 2021.

Results: Globally, there were 19,072 incident cases of Burkitt lymphoma in 2021.

Characterization of saffron from different origins by HS-GC-IMS and authenticity identification combined with deep learning.

With the rising demand of saffron, it is essential to standardize the confirmation of its origin and identify any adulteration to maintain a good quality led market product. However, a rapid and reliable strategy for identifying the adulteration saffron is still lacks. Herein, a combination of headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and convolutional neural network (CNN) was developed.

Efficacy of spray flushing in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes.

This article comments on the article by Du , who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels. We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods. The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage, suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.

A comparative study of hospitalization costs of TKA inpatients before and after National Volume-based Procurement in Guangdong, China: an interrupted time-series analysis.

Background: This study aims to explore the impact of the National Volume-based Procurement Policy in Guangdong Province on hospitalization costs for total knee arthroplasty inpatients.

Methods: Interrupted time-series analysis were used to examine the expenses associated with total knee arthroplasty for inpatients at a hospital in Guangzhou between May 10, 2021, and December 26, 2023. The period was divided into two phases based on the implementation of the policy, the pre-policy phase (May 10, 2021, to April 30, 2022) and the post-policy phase (May 1, 2022, to December 26, 2023).

Technology usage and glycaemic outcomes in a single tertiary centre with an ethnically diverse and socioeconomically deprived cohort of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The UK National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) data reports disparities in Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels among children and young people (CYP) with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), with higher levels in those of Black ethnic background and lower socioeconomic status who have less access to technology. We investigate HbA1c differences in a T1D cohort with higher than national average technology uptake where > 60% come from an ethnic minority and/or socioeconomically deprived population.

Design & Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study investigating the influence of demographic factors, technology use, and socioeconomic status (SES) on glycaemic outcomes.

Examining ozone effects on the tropical C crop .

Ozone (O), a major air pollutant, can negatively impact plant growth and yield. While O impacts have been widely documented in crops such as wheat and soybean, few studies have looked at the effects of O on sorghum, a C plant and the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide. We exposed grain sorghum ( cv.

Effects of mosquito-proofing storm drains on adult and larvae mosquito abundance: Protocol of the IDAlErt storm drAin randomiSed controlled trial (IDEAS).

and mosquitoes, known for spreading arboviruses like dengue and West Nile, thrive in cities, posing health risks to urban populations. Climate change can create suitable climatic conditions for these vectors to spread further in Europe. Cities contain numerous landscape and infrastructure elements, such as storm drains, that allow stagnant water build-up facilitating mosquito breeding.

Recent Advancements in Robotic-assisted Plastic Surgery Procedures: A Systematic Review.

Background: There has been a delayed, yet steady uptake of robotic-assisted surgery over the past decade within the field of plastic surgery. In an era of rapidly evolving scientific and technological development, there is a need for an update on the current literature for robotic-assisted plastic surgery procedures.

Methods: Searches were conducted across major databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, and Central for published literature from March 2023 to December 2024.

Is there a role for nutritional advice during breastfeeding for infant colic relief? A mixed-method study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the extent and impact of maternal dietary change for colic relief in a cohort of breastfeeding women.

Method: A mixed-method non-sequential approach was devised, including a web-based survey (n = 66) and three semi-structured interviews.

Results: Most women (70 %) changed their diet while breastfeeding a baby with colic and perceived a positive impact on their babies (63 %).

Acute beneficial effects of a functional energy shot on cognitive performance and mood states during cognitively demanding task performance: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Introduction: Functional beverages are increasingly popular but it is important to validate their purported effects through research. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of a new functional energy shot on cognitive performance and mood states in healthy adults, with a focus on measuring mental energy enhancement and attenuation of negative effects associated with extended performance of mentally demanding tasks.

Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.