Association between Ambient Ultrafine Particles and Neurodevelopmental Delay in Preschoolers in Shanghai, China.

Previous toxicological research has suggested the potential neurotoxicity of ultrafine particulate matter (UFP, particles ≤0.1 μm in diameter). However, evidence from human beings, particularly regarding the neurodevelopmental impacts of UFP, is still limited.

Developing generic clinical trial animated explainer videos in the UK: results of a survey and case study.

Background: Animated short videos used to explain a concept or project are often called animated explainer videos (AEVs). AEVs can supplement or provide an alternative to participant information sheets as a means of giving information about clinical research to potential participants. Current use of AEVs tends to focus on the specifics of a particular trial, yet there are many common aspects of clinical research regardless of the interventions being investigated that can be poorly covered in current trial materials.

Botulinum neurotoxins exploit host digestive proteases to boost their oral toxicity via activating OrfXs/P47.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) rank among the most potent toxins and many of them are produced by bacteria carrying the orfX gene cluster that also encodes four nontoxic proteins (OrfX1, OrfX2, OrfX3 and P47). The orfX gene cluster is also found in the genomes of many non-BoNT-producing bacteria, often alongside genes encoding oral insecticidal toxins. However, the functions of these OrfXs and P47 remain elusive.

Immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae viable cells for electrochemical biosensing of Cu(II).

Electrodes functionalised with weak electroactive microorganisms offer a viable alternative to conventional chemical sensors for detecting priority pollutants in bioremediation processes. Biofilm-based biosensors have been proposed for this purpose. However, biofilm formation and maturation require 24-48 h, and the microstructure and coverage of the electrode surface cannot be controlled, leading to poorly reproducible signal and sensitivity.

Dengue dynamics, predictions, and future increase under changing monsoon climate in India.

The global burden of dengue disease is escalating under the influence of climate change, with India contributing a third of the total. The non-linearity and regional heterogeneity inherent in the climate-dengue relationship and the lack of consistent data makes it difficult to make useful predictions for effective disease prevention. The current study investigates these non-linear climate-dengue links in Pune, a dengue hotspot region in India with a monsoonal climate and presents a model framework for predicting both the near-term and future dengue mortalities.

Liquid crystal torons in Poiseuille-like flows.

Three-dimensional (3D) simulations of the structure of liquid crystal (LC) torons, topologically protected distortions of the LC director field, under material flows are rare but essential in microfluidic applications. Here, we show that torons adopt a steady-state configuration at low flow velocity before disintegrating at higher velocities, in line with experimental results. Furthermore, we show that under partial slip conditions at the boundaries, the flow induces a reversible elongation of the torons, also consistent with the experimental observations.

'Captivating voices': evaluation of a patient-centred animated video on excessive physical exercise and eating disorders.

This project aimed to evaluate the acceptance of a short, animated video addressing excessive exercise within the context of eating disorder (ED) behaviours among diverse target groups, assess its impact and explore potential associations with disordered eating risk. An online survey was conducted, recruiting 170 participants who were shown a 3-minute and 11-second long animated video portraying narratives of individuals with lived experiences related to excessive exercise and ED. Participants provided demographic information, engaged in the video evaluation answering a 9-item questionnaire and completed a subsequent ED screening and a drive for muscularity questionnaire.

Empowering students in curriculum design and pedagogy: Perceptions of pharmacy students as partners; A qualitative study.

Introduction: The concept of "Students as Partners" (SaP) in curriculum design and pedagogy marks a significant shift towards relational pedagogical approaches in higher education. This study explored pharmacy students' perceptions of the SaP approach, focusing on their involvement in curriculum design and the perceived benefits and challenges of such partnerships.

Methods: A qualitative research design was employed, utilising one-on-one interviews with pharmacy students at a university in Malaysia.

Scaling Behavior and Conductance Mechanisms of Ion Transport in Atomically Thin Graphene Nano/Subnanopores.

Ion transport through atomically thin nano/subnanopores, such as those in monolayer graphene, presents challenges to traditional ion conduction models, primarily due to extreme confinement effects and hydration interactions. Under these conditions, existing models fail to account for conductance behaviors at the nano- and subnanometer scales. In this study, we perform a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of ion transport in monolayer graphene nano/subnanopores across varying salt concentrations.

Contemporary management of phyllodes tumours of the breast: proposal for recommendations from the UK Association of Breast Surgery.

Phyllodes tumours of the breast are rare fibroepithelial neoplasms classified histologically into benign, borderline, or malignant; each requiring different treatment strategies. The infrequency of presentation can result in diagnostic and management variability. The aim is to provide evidence-based or expert consensus recommendations for multidisciplinary teams managing patients with phyllodes tumours.

Effectiveness of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Sucking Performance in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) is commonly employed to assist in the development of preterm infants facing feeding challenges. The effectiveness of NNS interventions on sucking performance (suction and expression/compression component of sucking) in this population has not yet to be systematically explored.

Aims: To review the literature on the effects of NNS on sucking performance in preterm infants.

How do staff work in NHS hospital operations management meetings to support resilience in everyday service delivery? A qualitative study.

Background: Operations Management meetings in NHS hospitals provide an opportunity for operational and clinical staff to monitor demand and capacity and manage patient flow. These meetings play an important role in the achievement of resilient performance over time. However, little is known about the work that takes place within these meetings in the United Kingdom's National Health Service.

Value of endometrial biopsy in patients with hysteroscopically atrophic endometrium in patients with postmenopausal bleeding.

Purpose: To determine the rate of precancer and cancer in women presenting with PMB who have a visually atrophic endometrium at hysteroscopy and assess the value of endometrial biopsy in this situation and the adequacy of the samples obtained.

Methods: Retrospective reviews of all patients with a visually atrophic endometrium at hysteroscopy who had presented with PMB and had an ET > / = 4 mm or ET < 4 mm with focal changes or irregular features between 2013 and 2024 at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton were included (n = 1096). Patients who had previously had cancer or precancer or had unclear hysteroscopy findings were excluded.

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.

Do you think medicines can be prescribed in a more eco-directed, greener way? A qualitative study based on public and prescriber focus groups on the impact of pharmaceuticals in Scotland's water environment.

Objectives: This qualitative study explored public and prescriber awareness of pharmaceutical pollution in the water environment and eco-directed sustainable prescribing (EDSP) as a mitigation strategy to reduce the environmental impact of prescribing in Scotland.

Design: Focus groups explored prescriber and public perceptions of the topic. Common questions were asked through semistructured facilitation.

Intravenous antibiotics for pulmonary exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is a multisystem disease characterised by the production of thick secretions causing recurrent pulmonary infection, often with unusual bacteria. Intravenous (IV) antibiotics are commonly used in the treatment of acute deteriorations in symptoms (pulmonary exacerbations); however, recently the assumption that exacerbations are due to increases in bacterial burden has been questioned. This is an update of a previously published review.

The Impact of Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Admissions Out-of-Area or to Adult Wards: A Systematic Review.

Child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient admissions out-of-area or to adult wards are frequently discussed in the national media. No previous systematic reviews have investigated the impact of such admissions. Systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, King's Fund, Google Scholar, The Health Foundation, Social Care Online, Cochrane Library, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Web of Science and Econ light databases were conducted alongside grey literature searches.

Impact of water stress to plant epigenetic mechanisms in stress and adaptation.

Water is the basic molecule in living beings, and it has a major impact on vital processes. Plants are sessile organisms with a sophisticated regulatory network that regulates how resources are distributed between developmental and adaptation processes. Drought-stressed plants can change their survival strategies to adapt to this unfavorable situation.

A Systematic Literature Review of Trauma Systems: An Operations Management Perspective.

Background: Trauma systems provide comprehensive care across various settings, from prehospital services to rehabilitation, integrating clinical and social care aspects. Established in the 1970s, these systems are pivotal yet under-researched in their operational management. This study aims to fill this gap by focussing on the integration of operations management (OM) techniques to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of trauma systems.

Enhanced Proton Conductivity Promoted by Structural Transition in a 2D Interwoven Metal-Organic Framework.

We report enhanced proton conductivity promoted by a structural phase transition of MFM-504(Cu)-DMF to MFM-504(Cu)-MeOH and to MFM-504(Cu)-OH via ligand substitution upon exposure to MeOH and HO vapors, respectively. MFM-504(Cu)-DMF can be synthesized by the solvothermal reaction of Cu(NO)·3HO and the flexible zwitterionic ligand, imidazolium-1,3-bis(methylenedicarboxylate) (imidc), to afford a unique layered interwoven network structure. MFM-504(Cu)-OH shows a proton conductivity of 5.

A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pramipexole in addition to mood stabilisers for patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (the PAX-BD study).

Background: Options for 'treatment-resistant bipolar depression' (TRBD) are limited. Two small, short-term, trials of pramipexole suggest it might be an option.

Aims: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of pramipexole in the management of TRBD.

Update to the PRISMA guidelines for network meta-analyses and scoping reviews and development of guidelines for rapid reviews: a scoping review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to develop a list of items for potential inclusion in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines for network meta-analysis (NMA), scoping reviews (ScRs), and rapid reviews (RRs).

Introduction: The PRISMA extensions for NMA and ScRs were published in 2015 and 2018. However, since then, their methodologies and innovations, including automation, have evolved.

Alpha and Theta Oscillations Associated With Behavioral Phenotypes of Pain-Attention Interaction.

Purpose: Pain is inherently salient and so draws our attention in addition to impacting performance on attention-demanding tasks. Individual variability in pain-attention interactions can be assessed by two kinds of behavioral phenotypes that quantify how individuals prioritize pain versus attentional needs. The intrinsic attention to pain (IAP) measure quantifies the degree to which a person attends to pain (high-IAP) or mind-wanders away from pain (low-IAP).

A modelling technique to determine the high frequency transformer leakage inductance using the winding structure.

The operation and efficiency of isolated DC-DC converters, critical components in solid-state transformers, are significantly impacted by leakage inductance in high-frequency transformers (HFTs). Different converters have varying demands regarding leakage inductance, ranging from precise control to minimal inductance. For instance, the performance of bidirectional isolated converters (BIDCs) and resonant converters is dependent on leakage inductance for the delivery of power.