Improved Annotation of Asthma Gene Variants with Cell Type Deconvolution of Nasal and Lung Expression-Quantitative Trait Loci.

Asthma is a genetically complex inflammatory airway disease associated with over 200 Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, the functional effects of many asthma-associated SNPs in lung and airway epithelial samples are unknown. Here, we aimed to conduct expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis using a meta-analysis of nasal and lung samples.

Developing a co-designed, culturally responsive physical activity program for Pasifika communities in Western Sydney, Australia.

Pasifika communities in Western Sydney experience significant health disparities, particularly related to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and diabetes. Physical activity is known to improve both physical and mental health, yet access to culturally responsive physical activity programs for Pasifika communities is limited. This study leveraged expertise from an Advisory Committee to adopt community-based participatory research (CBPR) through Talanoa to co-design a physical activity program specifically tailored for Pasifika people in Western Sydney.

Era of Generalist Conversational Artificial Intelligence to Support Public Health Communications.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health communication systems has introduced a transformative approach to public health management, particularly during public health emergencies, capable of reaching billions through familiar digital channels. This paper explores the utility and implications of generalist conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) advanced AI systems trained on extensive datasets to handle a wide range of conversational tasks across various domains with human-like responsiveness. The specific focus is on the application of generalist CAI within messaging services, emphasizing its potential to enhance public health communication.

Evaluation of combined workflows for multimodal mass spectrometry imaging of elements and lipids from the same tissue section.

The wide range of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technologies enables the spatial distributions of many analyte classes to be investigated. However, as each approach is best suited to certain analytes, combinations of different MSI techniques are increasingly being explored to obtain more chemical information from a sample. In many cases, performing a sequential analysis of the same tissue section is ideal to enable a direct correlation of multimodal data.

Contemporary clinical conversations about stuttering: How to keep up with stuttering treatment research.

Purpose: To discuss how speech-language pathologists can keep up with stuttering treatment research. To inform junior clinicians and students of speech-language pathology about this matter.

Method: The issue was discussed by two university researchers and two speech-language pathologists who provide clinical services.

The lived experience of women studying nursing online in regional, rural and remote areas: an integrative literature review.

Background: There is a critical shortage of registered nurses working in regional, rural and remote Australia. It is the people from these areas that are most likely to address this shortage. This research therefore sets out to explore the question "what is known about the experiences of regional, rural and remote Australian women undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing program delivered online?".

Developing an Australian Value Set for the Recovering Quality of Life-Utility Index (ReQoL-UI) instrument using Discrete Choice Experiment with Duration.

Objectives: The Recovering Quality of Life-Utility Index (ReQoL-UI) instrument was designed to measure the quality of life outcomes for people over 16 years of age with mental health problems. We aim to elicit societal preferences for the ReQoL-UI health states to facilitate better decision-making in Australia.

Methods: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) with duration was embedded in a self-complete online survey and administered to a representative sample (n=1019) of the Australian adult population aged 18 years and more, stratified for age, sex and geographic location.

Learning from perinatal grief and loss: Insights from midwifery student focus groups.

Aim: To explore Australian midwifery students' learning experiences with death and their learning needs for these encounters.

Background: Midwives care for women who experience perinatal grief and loss. The care required in these events is complex and clinically challenging.

Effects of group communication norms on daily steps in a team-based financial incentive mobile phone intervention in Shanghai, China.

Background: Mobile technology offers great potential for physical activity promotion, especially by facilitating online communication, however, the impact of group communication norms on intervention effectiveness remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect on daily steps of a team-based social norms-related intervention using a mobile application.

Methods: The 13-week quasi-experimental study was conducted in Shanghai, China, from September to November 2019, involving 2,985 employees from 32 worksites.

A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of BiPAP Pressure Settings on Airway Biomechanics Using a CT-Based Respiratory Tract Model.

Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (CSA and OSA), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) disrupt breathing patterns, posing significant health risks and reducing the quality of life. Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) therapy offers adjustable inhalation and exhalation pressures, potentially enhancing treatment adaptability for the above diseases. This is the first-ever study that employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to examine the biomechanical impacts of BiPAP under four settings: Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure (IPAP)/Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) of 12/8, 16/6, and 18/8 cmHO, compared to a without-BiPAP scenario of zero-gauge pressure.

Interrelated issues within the Water-Energy-Food nexus with a focus on environmental pollution for sustainable development: A review.

Pollution within the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus has a profound impact on environmental health, human well-being, and the sustainability of essential resource systems. This study seeks to highlight the crucial link between pollution and the WEF nexus, aiming to inform authorities and policymakers to foster the development of sustainable policies. The research employed a comprehensive systematic review methodology, utilizing the Scopus database to identify 2524 relevant peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2023.

Antibiotic resistance gene levels within a highly urbanised estuary.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasingly being found in aquatic environments, representing a potential threat to public health. To examine the dynamics and potential sources of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in urbanised waterways, we performed a six-month temporal study at six locations within the Sydney Harbour estuary. These locations spanned a salinity gradient from seawater at the mouth of the harbour to freshwater at the more urbanised western sites.

Reliability and validity of the unhelpful thoughts and beliefs scale for Persian-speaking adults who stutter (UTBAS-P): A cross-cultural examination of social anxiety in people who stutter.

Background And Aim: An increasing body of research indicates that many adults who stutter (AWS) experience anxiety in social and verbal situations. The Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs about Stuttering (UTBAS) scales were developed to assess speech-related anxiety and negative cognitions associated with stuttering. This study aimed to translate the UTBAS into Persian, investigate its psychometric properties for Persian-speaking AWS, and compare the results with previously published UTBAS scores across various cultures.

Glaucoma detection and staging from visual field images using machine learning techniques.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the performance of deep learning (DL) models to differentiate between normal and glaucomatous visual fields (VFs) and classify glaucoma from early to the advanced stage to observe if the DL model can stage glaucoma as Mills criteria using only the pattern deviation (PD) plots. The DL model results were compared with a machine learning (ML) classifier trained on conventional VF parameters.

Methods: A total of 265 PD plots and 265 numerical datasets of Humphrey 24-2 VF images were collected from 119 normal and 146 glaucomatous eyes to train the DL models to classify the images into four groups: normal, early glaucoma, moderate glaucoma, and advanced glaucoma.

Parents' Experiences and Views About Use of Wearable Technology for Research and Treatment Monitoring of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Objective: Wearable technology has potential benefits for clinical measurement with children who have neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, this cohort may experience sensory processing disorder, behavioral dysregulation, and cognitive challenges. For effective and considerate implementation, the experiences and views of parents of children with NDDs on this topic need in-depth investigation.

Perceived Barriers to Leisure-Time Physical Activity Among Physically Active Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To investigate barriers to leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for physically active people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Prospective cross-sectional.

Setting: General community.

Understanding glucose metabolism and insulin action at the blood-brain barrier: Implications for brain health and neurodegenerative diseases.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective, semipermeable barrier critical for maintaining brain homeostasis. The BBB regulates the transport of essential nutrients, hormones, and signaling molecules between the bloodstream and the central nervous system (CNS), while simultaneously protecting the brain from potentially harmful substances and pathogens. This selective permeability ensures that the brain is nourished and shielded from toxins.

Evaluating primary care expenditure in Australia: the Primary Care Spend (PC Spend) model.

Objectives: To assess the distribution of health care expenditure (public and private) for primary care and primary health care as proportions of overall health care funding.

Study Design: The Primary Care Spend model; estimated distribution of expenditure for three tiers of primary care services by provider and function.

Setting: Primary Care Spend model applied to Australian health expenditure, public and private, 2020-21, from a health sector perspective, as recorded by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Surface Modification of 3D Biomimetic Shark Denticle Structures for Drag Reduction.

Shark skin features superhydrophilic and riblet-textured denticles that provide drag reduction, antifouling, and mechanical protection. The artificial riblet structures exhibit drag reduction capabilities in turbulent flow. However, the effects of the surface wettability of shark denticles and the cavity region underneath the denticle crown on drag reduction remain insufficiently explored.

Advancements in gene therapies targeting mutant KRAS in cancers.

Mutations in the KRAS gene are well-known tumourigenic drivers of colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancers. Mechanistically, these mutations promote uncontrolled cell proliferation and alter the tumour microenvironment during early carcinoma stages. Given their critical carcinogenic functions, significant progress has been made in developing KRAS inhibitors for cancer treatment.

Measurement tools used to assess individual health assets among refugee populations: a scoping review.

Forced migration is increasing globally, which has detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of refugees, who may face significant challenges accessing healthcare services. However, refugees also possess considerable strengths or assets that can protect against various health challenges. Identifying and strengthening the individual health assets of refugees is critical to promoting their health and mitigating these health challenges.

Quality by Design-Steered Chromatographic Separation and Identification of the Geometric Isomers of Capsiate by Reversed-Phase HPLC and LC-MS.

An efficient reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method, based on the design of the experiment approach, was developed for the simultaneous determination of capsiate isomers. Critical method parameters, i.e.

Cigarette smoke components modulate the MR1-MAIT axis.

Tobacco smoking is prevalent across the world and causes numerous diseases. Cigarette smoke (CS) compromises immunity, yet little is known of the components of CS that impact T cell function. MR1 is a ubiquitous molecule that presents bacterial metabolites to MAIT cells, which are highly abundant in the lungs.

Population attributable fractions for modifiable risk factors of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality in 48 low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Identifying the modifiable risk factors for childhood mortality using population-attributable fractions (PAFs) estimates can inform public health planning and resource allocation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We estimated PAFs for key population-level modifiable risk factors of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality in LMICs.

Methods: We used the most recent Demographic and Health Survey data sets (2010-22) from 48 LMICs, encompassing 35 sub-Saharan African countries and 13 countries from South and Southeast Asia (n = 506 989).

Trials and tribulations: a qualitative exploration of researcher perspectives on navigating the challenges of health system implementation research.

Objective: While researchers are crucial to the successful delivery of implementation trials, their perspectives are rarely captured in the evaluation of these trials. This qualitative study aimed to capture the experiences of a small research team coordinating a large, multisite implementation trial (the Hide and Seek Project) in the Australian healthcare setting.

Design: A qualitative approach was used, whereby members of the Hide and Seek Project research team were invited to take part in semistructured focus groups led by an external facilitator.