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Given the widely expanding professional and empirical support for integrating spirituality into counseling, the authors present a practical discussion for raising counselors' general awareness and skill in the critical area of spiritual assessment. A discussion of rationale, measurement, and clinical practice is provided along with case examples. D. R. Hodge's (2001) spiritual life map is highlighted as an assessment tool. The authors also discuss the influence of counselor-client values and beliefs in therapy and the need to incorporate developmental and cultural influences in spiritual assessment.

Many anthropogenic inputs, such as municipal wastewater effluents (MWWEs), affect stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ15N) at the base of exposed food webs creating spatial patterns reflecting their incorporation into aquatic food webs. The Grand River in southern Ontario, Canada, is a heavily modified, rapidly urbanizing river that assimilates wastewater from 30 municipal wastewater treatment plants. Stable isotope analysis was applied to resident aquatic invertebrates and fish influenced by three different wastewater outfalls in early, middle, and late summer to determine how values shifted seasonally and with differing effluent quality. There was a slight increase in δ13C in both invertebrates and fish in late summer downstream from the three outfalls, but it is difficult to separate effects of the effluents from downstream gradients. Downstream of two of the three outfalls, the δ15N tended to increase relative to upstream, while the remaining effluent, of the poorest quality, decreased δ15N values of both invertebrates and fish. Spatial trends in stable isotopes became more pronounced as the summer progressed with the greatest between-site differences occurring in late summer. This study reflects the complex nutrient dynamics associated with MWWE inputs to rivers and contributes to our understanding and application of stable isotope analysis in impacted lotic ecosystems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and PurposeThe aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of drusen and pigmentary changes in a middle-aged population.MethodsRetinal images from 500 individuals aged 18-54 years were included. The source of participants was two UK optometry practices. Retinal images were graded using the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System. However, owing to the relatively young age of the population studied, a new category of drusen of smaller size (<31.5 μm) was introduced.ResultsDrusen were identified within the central macular grid in 91.48% of all gradable eyes and in 444 subjects. Drusen sized <31.5 μm were present in 89.7% of eyes, drusen sized >31.5 μm and <63 μm were present in 45.9% of all eyes and drusen >63 μm and <125 μm were present in only 1.7% of eyes. No eye had drusen larger or equal to 125 μm. Very few eyes (1.2%) showed pigmentary changes within the grid. Drusen load increased with increasing age, P <0.001.ConclusionsThe frequency of drusen in a younger Caucasian population aged 18-54 years is high, with 91.48% of all gradable eyes having drusen. The most frequent drusen subtype was hard distinct drusen <31.5 μm. No druse greater or equal in size to 125 μm was seen. Pigmentary changes are rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed that the spiritual variable, purpose in life (PIL), has a significant mediating role within the empirically documented causative relationship between long-term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and AA involvement. A representative sample of 78 participants, drawn from AA clubs located across the United States, was used in the study. Stepwise regression results showed PIL as a significant contributor to AA involvement, confirming the findings of previous studies. Baron and Kenny's (1986) regression analysis for mediation, however, did not support PIL as a mediator between AA involvement and long-term sobriety. It was concluded that the complexity of the AA involvement construct likely confounds the contribution of PIL to length of sobriety. Further research is needed to clarify the role of PIL in AA involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the contribution of gender, psychological resilience, acculturation, and spirituality to Asian Indian American marital satisfaction over and above demographic variables. Correlation and regression analyses were used in this study. The results indicated that together gender, psychological resilience, acculturation, and spirituality predicted marital satisfaction. The study also showed that, among the independent variables, spirituality has a unique predictive ability. Further, there was no supportive evidence that gender, psychological resilience, and acculturation can independently explain the variance in Asian Indian American marital satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was a cross-sectional study of spirituality and views of God as predictors of subjective well-being (SWB) over and above a comprehensive measure of personality. The total sample of 321 participants consisted of 121 Catholic religious women and 200 Jesuit seminarians in India whose overall mean age was 34 years. Family of origin backgrounds of the participants were severely impoverished economically. Hierarchical multiple regression found that personality explained a significant amount of variance for all three facets of SWB including positive affect, negative affect, and cognitive well-being. Faith maturity and positive God image each contributed significant independent variance in predicting increased positive affect and cognitive well-being. Negative God-image, in contrast, predicted reduced positive affect and cognitive well-being, and increased negative affect. Analysis by gender indicated that spirituality and God image predict differentially to subjective well-being components for men and women. The findings replicate cross-culturally the utility of viewing spiritual transcendence as related to human flourishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although part of the IBM System z™ strategy is to improve design and development processes to prevent errors from escaping to the field, improving recovery is another element in the strategy to keep a machine up and running should an error occur. The z9™ continues on an evolutionary path of enhancing I/O subsystem (IOSS) recovery to further advance the reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) of System z platforms. This paper presents an overview of recovery and how it interacts with other RAS functions--such as error-detection mechanisms in hardware, including automatic identification and recovery of failing elements--up to the point in time prior to the advent of the z9. It then presents the innovations to IOSS recovery and error detection in the z9 that further improve machine availability. The recovery infrastructure, which significantly reduces recovery time and makes recovery much less dependent on machine scaling for this and future generations of System z servers, is described. Also described are such innovative uses of this new infrastructure as improvements in error detection related to elusive firmware problems seen in prior machines, the ability to detect and recover from firmware hangs or lockups related to inadvertently leaving control blocks locked, and the capability to perform recovery in parallel by multiple system-assist processors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the problem-solving or coping aspect of religiousness as well as spiritual support, spiritual openness, and religious faith practice as the key predictors of long-term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Purpose in life and AA involvement were also included as important indicators for sustained abstinence from drinking. The 78 participants were members of AA clubs located in Maryland, New York, Kansas, Missouri, South Carolina, and California. Results confirmed the findings of previous studies that indicated AA involvement to be the single most, important predictor of abstinence and sobriety in AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A short clinical vignette is discussed in terms of the theoretical concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientations (G.W. Allport & J.M. Ross, 1967) faith development (J.W. Fowler, 1981), and transcendence (W. James, 1936). The author discusses the therapeutic value of a client's religious orientation, faith development, and transcendence in helping to promote constructive change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of metalloids and heavy metals in the environment is of critical concern due to their toxicological impacts. However, not all metallic species have the same risk level. Specifically, the physical, chemical, and isotopic speciation of the metal(loids) dictate their metabolism, toxicity, and environmental fate. As such, speciation analysis is critical for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. In the past two decades, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has seen significant developments regarding trace metal(loid) sensing due to its ultrahigh sensitivity, readiness for in situ real-time applications, and cost-effectiveness. However, the speciation of metal(loid)s has not been accounted for in the design and application of SERS sensors. In this Perspective, we examine the potential of SERS for metal(loid) speciation analysis and highlight the advantages, progress, opportunities, and challenges of this application.

Dissolvable polymeric microneedles (DPMNs) have emerged as a powerful technology for the localized treatment of diseases, such as melanoma. Herein, we fabricated a DPMN patch containing a potent enzyme-nanozyme composite that transforms the upregulated glucose consumption of cancerous cells into lethal reactive oxygen species via a cascade reaction accelerated by endogenous chloride ions and external near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. This was accomplished by combining glucose oxidase (Gox) with a NIR-responsive chloroperoxidase-like copper sulfide (CuS) nanozyme. In contrast with subcutaneous injection, the microneedle system highly localizes the treatment, enhancing nanomedicine uptake by the tumor and reducing its systemic exposure to the kidneys and spleen. NIR irradiation further controls the potency and toxicity of the formulation by thermally disabling Gox. In a mouse melanoma model, this unique combination of photothermal, starvation, and chemodynamic therapies resulted in complete tumor eradication (99.2 ± 0.8 % reduction in tumor volume within 10 d) without producing signs of systemic toxicity. By comparison, other treatment combinations only resulted in a 42-76.5 % reduction in tumor growth. The microneedle patch design is therefore not only highly potent but also with regulated toxicity and improved safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

As an effective antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD) has been widely used as a food supplement, cosmetic additive, and therapeutic agent. However, oral delivery of SOD is challenging due to its relative instability, limited bioavailability, and low absorption efficiency in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We addressed these issues using a highly stable superoxide dismutase (hsSOD) generated from a hot spring microbial sample. This SOD exhibited a specific activity of 5000 IU/mg while retaining its enzymatic activity under low pH environments of an artificial GI system and in the presence of surfactants and various proteolytic enzymes. The inhibitory effects of hsSOD against skin-aging was evaluated under both in vitro and in vivo experiments using fibroblast cell and D-galactose induced aging-mouse models, respectively. Effective oral delivery of hsSOD promises wide applicability in pharmaceutical and food industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: As per the policy of Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy and our ethical obligation as researchers, we disclose that Y. Chen, L. Gu, and M. Gan, who are coauthors of this paper, are employees of Shenzhen Siyomicro BIO-TECH CO., Ltd. The research reported in this paper may potentially affect the interests of their employer. We have fully disclosed these potential conflicts to Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. Based on the ethical policies of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Cape Breton University, we have taken measures to manage and address these conflicts., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Introduction: Given the hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden and despite curative treatments, more efforts focused on scaling-up testing and treatment in homeless populations are needed. This project aimed to implement education and flexible on-site HCV testing, treatment, and follow-up for a homeless population in south London and to evaluate engagement, therapy initiation, and cure rates., Methods: A mobile unit (van) for on-site HCV education, screening, treatment, and follow-up was placed on the street in a well-known homeless population areas from January 2018 to September 2021. Homeless was defined as living in temporary housing (hostel/hotel-based) or living on the street (street-based). Sociodemographic status, risk factors, comorbidities, concomitant medication, and data related with HCV treatment were recorded. Univariable and multivariable modeling were performed for treatment initiation and sustained virological response (SVR)., Results: Nine hundred forty homeless people were identified and 99.3% participated. 56.2% were street-based, 243 (26%) tested positive for HCV antibody, and 162 (17.4%) were viremic. Those with detectable HCV RNA had significantly more frequent psychiatric disorders, active substance use disorders, were on opioid agonist treatment, had advanced fibrosis, and had lower rates of previous treatment in comparison with undetectable HCV RNA. Overall treatment initiation was 70.4% and SVR was 72.8%. In the multivariable analysis, being screened in temporary housing (odds ratio [OR] 3.166; P = 0.002) and having opioid agonist treatment (OR 3.137; P = 0.004) were positively associated with treatment initiation. HCV treatment adherence (OR 26.552; P < 0.001) was the only factor associated with achieving SVR., Discussion: Promoting education and having flexible and reflex mobile on-site testing and treatment for HCV in the homeless population improve engagement with the health care system, meaning higher rates of treatment initiation and SVR. However, street-based homeless population not linked with harm reduction services are less likely to initiate HCV treatment, highlighting an urgent need for a broad health inclusion system., (Copyright © 2022 by The American College of Gastroenterology.)

Cryptococcus is a rare pathogenic fungus that is known primarily for causing meningeal and pulmonary disease in immunocompromised patients. There are scarce reports of other varieties of cryptococcal infections, such as disseminated and peritoneal disease. Here we present a very rare case of an elderly female patient with a history of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis who presented with symptoms of dyspnea and abdominal distention and was found to have Cryptococcus neoformans pleuritis and peritonitis without evidence of disseminated disease. The patient was treated with antifungals consisting of amphotericin and flucytosine followed by fluconazole. This case describes a previously unknown pattern of disease spread and adds to the body of knowledge on Cryptococcus . Additionally, it reinforces growing evidence in the literature that cirrhosis is a risk factor for Cryptococcus ., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest There is no conflict of interest., (© 2023 Greater Baltimore Medical Center.)

Microneedles (MN) technology is an emerging technology for the transdermal delivery of therapeutics. When combined with photoresponsive (PR) materials, MNs can deliver therapeutics precisely and effectively with enhanced efficacy or synergistic effects. This review systematically summarizes the therapeutic applications of PRMNs in cancer therapy, wound healing, diabetes treatment, and diagnostics. Different PR approaches to activate and control the release of therapeutic agents from MNs are also discussed. Overall, PRMNs are a powerful tool for stimuli-responsive controlled-release therapeutic delivery to treat various diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest TDN has conflict of interest with PiezoBioMembrane Inc. and SingleTimeMicroneedles Inc., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Although liposomes have demonstrated significant clinical success as drug delivery vehicles, pharmacokinetic (PK) profiling of liposomal nanomedicines remains difficult due to technical challenges accurately measuring low concentrations of free drug in complex biological matrices. Microdialysis (MD) is well established as a powerful in vivo sampling tool for PK studies, but non-volatile salts present in the microdialysate are incompatible with mass spectrometry (MS) analysis without tedious sample pre-treatment. To address this issue, a µSPE-based microfluidic chip was fabricated to interface MD with MS. By incorporating PEG 20,000 as an effective anti-foulant, the µSPE-based microfluidic chip demonstrated excellent efficiencies in drug extraction and de-salting of the microdialysate, providing a promising approach to real-time monitoring of nanomedicine PK profiles., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Multimodal nanotherapeutic cancer treatments are widely studied but are often limited by their costly and complex syntheses that are not easily scaled up. Herein, a simple formulation of glucose-oxidase-coated CuS nanoparticles was demonstrated to be highly effective for melanoma treatment, acting through a synergistic combination of glucose starvation, photothermal therapy, and synergistic advanced chemodynamic therapy enabled by near-infrared irradiation coupled with Fenton-like reactions that were enhanced by endogenous chloride.

Unwanted biofilms present challenges for many industries. Herein an innovative biofilm removal technology was developed based on nitrite-accelerated Fenton chemistry, where both dissolved Cu ions and nano-CuO surfaces efficiently generate reactive nitrogen species as disinfectants. This simple, efficient, and cost-effective approach for biofilm removal generates important insights into Fenton chemistry, a fundamental mechanism in nature, considering the ubiquity of copper, hydrogen peroxide, and nitrite in the environment, biological systems, and various industrial processes.

The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) has been shown to make significant contributions to affective and motivated behavior, but a comprehensive description of the neurochemicals expressed in the cells of this brain region has never been presented. While the PVT is believed to be composed of projection neurons that primarily use as their neurotransmitter the excitatory amino acid, glutamate, several neuropeptides have also been described in this brain region. In this review article, we combine published literature with our observations from the Allen Brain Atlas to describe in detail the expression and distribution of neuropeptides in cells throughout the mouse and rat PVT, with a special focus on neuropeptides known to be involved in behavior. Several themes emerge from this investigation. First, while the majority of neuropeptides are expressed across the antero-posterior axis of the PVT, they generally exist in a gradient, in which expression is most dense but not exclusive in either the anterior or posterior PVT, although other neuropeptides display somewhat more equal expression in the anterior and posterior PVT but have reduced expression in the middle PVT. Second, we find overall that neuropeptides involved in arousal are more highly expressed in the anterior PVT, those involved in depression-like behavior are more highly expressed in the posterior PVT, and those involved in reward are more highly expressed in the medial PVT, while those involved in the intake of food and drugs of abuse are distributed throughout the PVT. Third, the pattern and content of neuropeptide expression in mice and rats appear not to be identical, and many neuropeptides found in the mouse PVT have not yet been demonstrated in the rat. Thus, while significantly more work is required to uncover the expression patterns and specific roles of individual neuropeptides in the PVT, the evidence thus far supports the existence of a diverse yet highly organized system of neuropeptides in this nucleus. Determined in part by their location within the PVT and their network of projections, the function of the neuropeptides in this system likely involves intricate coordination to influence both affective and motivated behavior., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Curtis, Oakes and Barson.)

Brief Overview: Collectively the evidence obtained from across five clinical studies involving 936 adults indicate that mono-herbal preparations of Sambucus nigra L. berry ( S.nigra ), when taken within 48 hours of the onset of acute respiratory viral infection, may reduce the duration and severity of common cold and influenza symptoms in adults. There is currently no evidence to support the use of S.nigra berry for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. Given the body of evidence from preclinical studies demonstrating the antiviral effects of S.nigra berry, alongside the results from clinical studies involving influenza viral infections included in this review, pre-clinical research exploring the potential effects of S.nigra berry on COVID-19 are encouraged., Verdict: The evidence included in this review is mostly derived from clinical studies involving adult participants and examining short-term use of commercial formulations of S.nigra berry for up to 16 days. Findings from included studies suggest that mono-herbal preparations of S.nigra berry (in extract or lozenge formulation) may reduce influenza-type symptoms, including fever, headache, nasal congestion and nasal mucous discharge in adults, when taken within the first 48 hours of symptom onset. Within 2-4 days of S.nigra treatment, most adult participants experienced significant symptom reduction, by an average of 50%. Evidence regarding the effectiveness of S.nigra berry on the symptom of cough, and need for/use of medicines (including antibiotics) to treat acute respiratory infections, is currently unclear and inconsistent. Adverse events were rare with no serious events reported. Adverse events, reported in two studies, were more common in comparators than in treatments. There is currently no reliable or sufficient scientific evidence to support the use of S.nigra in pregnant or lactating women., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A bleached kraft pulp mill operating in Nova Scotia, Canada has discharged effluent into a former tidal estuary known as Boat Harbour since 1967. After treatment in Boat Harbour, effluent is discharged into Northumberland Strait. Contaminated sediments in Boat Harbour are slated for remediation following cessation of effluent discharge. A review of historical documents to identify contaminants in marine biota in Northumberland Strait found insufficient data to properly assess baseline conditions prior to remediation. This study measured metal, methylmercury, dioxin and furan concentrations in surficial sediments and American lobster (Homarus americanus), rock crabs (Cancer irroratus) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) in Northumberland Strait. When compared to Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment sediment quality guidelines and Canadian Food Inspection Agency tissue guidelines results indicated limited contamination in sediments and biota, posing low risk to marine biota. Long-term monitoring is recommended to verify effectiveness of remediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for the determination of HA15, an emerging anticancer compound targeting GSPA5/BIP delivered by dissolvable polymeric microneedles. The linear range of quantification for HA15 was 2.5-1000 ng/ml in plasma and tissue homogenate and the limit of detection and lower limit of quantification are 1 and 2.5 ng/ml, respectively. The inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision were within the acceptable range. HA15 was extracted from mouse plasma and organs using protein precipitation and using dabrafenib as an internal standard and the drug was stable under relevant analytical conditions. The method was used to analyze drug loading, dissolution in vitro, and release ex vivo from dissolvable polymeric microneedles and used to compare these materials to subcutaneous injection for the tissue distribution in tumor bearing nude mice., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dissolvable polymeric microneedles (DPMNs) are promising transdermal drug delivery systems with minimal invasiveness and improved patient compliance. Incorporation of a small amount of graphene oxide (GO) in the biocompatible polymers for microneedle fabrication results in important new DPMN properties, that is, dramatically enhanced mechanic strength (10-17 times at 500 mg/mL GO), improved moisture resistance, self-sterilization, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (demonstrated in vitro), and near-infrared light-activated controlled drug release (demonstrated in vitro and in vivo), which were exploited for the transdermal delivery of the chemotherapeutic, HA15, to melanoma-bearing mouse models. These new properties improve their efficacy of transdermal drug delivery and ease of use, enhance their capability of controlled drug release, enlarge the scope of the polymers that can be used for DPMN fabrication, prevent microbial contamination during storage and transportation, and reduce infection risk in clinical applications.

Isolation of specific rare cell subtypes from whole blood is critical in cellular analysis and important in basic and clinical research. Traditional immunomagnetic cell capture suffers from suboptimal sensitivity, specificity, and time- and cost-effectiveness. Mimicking the features of octopuses, a device termed a "NanoOctopus" was developed for cancer cell isolation in whole blood. The device consists of long multimerized aptamer DNA strands, or tentacle DNA, immobilized on magnetic microparticle surfaces. Their ultrahigh sensitivity and specificity are attributed to multivalent binding of the tentacle DNA to cell receptors without steric hindrance. The simple, quick, and noninvasive capture and release of the target cells allows for extensive downstream cellular and molecular analysis, and the time- and cost-effectiveness of fabrication and regeneration of the devices makes them attractive for industrial manufacture.

A large body of literature supports the need to delay high school starting times to improve student health and well-being by allowing students an opportunity to get sufficient and appropriately timed sleep. However, a dearth of uniform and standardized tools has hampered efforts to collect data on adolescent sleep and related health behaviors that might be used to establish a need for, or to evaluate outcomes of, bell time delays. To assess validated tools available to schools and contrast them with tools that schools have actually used, we identified and reviewed published, validated self-report surveys of adolescent sleep and well-being, as well as unpublished surveys, used to assess student sleep and related health measures in US high schools considering later high school start times. Only three of the surveys reviewed had adequate psychometric properties and covered an appropriately wide range of health and academic questions to allow for discernment of outcomes in pre-post educational settings. The surveys exhibited marked variability in numerous areas, including focus, terminology, calculation of sleep duration, mode of administration, context of administration, and follow-up procedures. Our findings provide sleep researchers and school administrators with an overview of surveys that school districts have used, along with a deeper understanding of the challenges of choosing, designing, and administering self-report surveys in the context of changing school schedules. They also highlight the opportunities presented by these instruments to assess outcomes of delaying bell times, compare communities meaningfully, and establish the need for later school start times in individual school districts., (Copyright © 2017 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Biofilms present challenges to numerous industries. Herein, a simple approach was developed based on chloride-accelerated Fenton chemistry, where copper oxide nanoparticles facilitate efficient generation of reactive chlorine species for biofilm removal.

Magnesium aluminum-layered double-hydroxide nanoparticles (LDH NPs) are promising drug-delivery vehicles for gene therapy, particularly for siRNA interference; however, the interactions between oligo-DNA and LDH surfaces have not been adequately elucidated. Through a mechanistic study, oligo-DNA initially appears to rapidly bind strongly to the LDH outer surfaces through interactions with their phosphate backbones via ligand exchange with OH - on Mg 2+ centers and electrostatic forces with Al 3+ . These initial interactions might precede diffusion into interlayer spaces, and this knowledge can be used to design better gene therapy delivery systems.

We demonstrate a record bandwidth high energy supercontinuum source suitable for multispectral photoacoustic microscopy. The source has more than 150  nJ/10  nm bandwidth over a spectral range of 500 to 1600 nm. This performance is achieved using a carefully designed fiber taper with large-core input for improved power handling and small-core output that provides the desired spectral range of the supercontinuum source.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were assessed spatially and temporally within and adjacent to a former coking and steel manufacturing facility in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Concentrations of PAHs were measured in surface soils, marine and estuary sediments prior to and during remediation of the Sydney Tar Ponds (STPs) site which was contaminated by nearly a century of coking and steel production. Previous studies identified PAHs in surficial marine sediments within Sydney Harbour, which were considered to be derived from STP discharges. Numerous PAH fingerprint techniques (diagnostic ratios, principal component analysis, quantitative and qualitative analysis) were applied to soil and sediment samples from the STPs and surrounding area to identify common source apportionment of PAHs. Results indicate coal combustion (from historical residential, commercial and industrial uses) and coal handling (from historic on-site stockpiling and current coal transfer and shipment facilities) are likely the principal source of PAHs found in urban soils and marine sediments, consistent with current and historical activities near these sites. However, PAH fingerprints associated with STP sediments correlated poorly with those of urban soils and marine sediments, but were similar to coal tar, historically consistent with by-products produced by the former coking operations. This study suggests PAH contamination of Sydney Harbour sediments and urban soils is largely unrelated to historic coking operations or recent remediation of the STPs site, but rather a legacy of extensive use of coal for a variety of activities., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Maximizing DNA loading on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is crucial for their successful utilization in gene transfer, DNA isolation, and bio-analytical applications. This enhancement is typically achieved by altering particle size and surfaces as well as charge density and ionic strength. We demonstrate a novel route for promoting DNA loading on amino-modified silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (ASMNPs) by prior condensation of elongated DNA to a compact globule before adsorption. The enhanced DNA-loading capacity, as demonstrated by a reduction in the number of ASMNPs needed to achieve complexation, was presumably due to the elimination of DNA wrapping around nanoparticles and substantially reduced electrostatic interactions of DNA with nanoparticles because the compacted DNA globule conformation decreases its exposed surface charge. The maximum loading capacity of ASMNPs for condensed DNA was 4.4 times greater than that for elongated coiled DNA, achieving the highest ever reported value of 385 μg mg(-1). Practical applications for plasmid DNA isolation from cleared lysate confirmed the reliability of the proposed method., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The management of chronic hepatitis B is complex due to its four disease stages. Monitoring is often required to inform future management; not all patients will require interventions. The long-term goals of treatment are to halt disease progression and to prevent cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. A number of guidelines are available, including those issued by the European Association for the Study of Liver Disease and recently published National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines. This article, the second in a two-part series, discusses the assessment and management of chronic hepatitis B in light of recent guidelines and the role of nurses in caring for patients with CHB. Part 1 looked at the prevalence and pathophysiology of chronic hepatitis B, recommendations for screening high-risk groups and immunisation.

Chronic hepatitis B is a growing worldwide public health issue. Its prevalence and the mode of transmission of the virus varies greatly between parts of the world. Prevalence is rising in the UK due to an increase in migration from areas with a high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B. This article, the first of a two-part series, discusses the prevalence and pathophysiology of chronic hepatitis B, as well as recommendations for screening high-risk groups and immunisation against the disease. Part two discusses the management of the virus.

This study aims to use solid phase microextraction (SPME), a simple tool to investigate diffusion rate (time) constant of selected pharmaceuticals in gel and fish muscle by comparing desorption rate of diffusion of the drugs in both agarose gel prepared with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4) and fish muscle. The gel concentration (agarose gel model) that could be used to simulate tissue matrix (fish muscle) for free diffusion of drugs under in vitro and in vivo conditions was determined to model mass transfer phenomena between fibre polymer coating and environmental matrix such that partition coefficients and desorption time constant (diffusion coefficient) can be determined. SPME procedure involves preloading the extraction phase (fibre) with the standards from spiked PBS for 1h via direct extraction. Subsequently, the preloaded fibre is introduced to the sample such fish or agarose gel for specified time ranging from 0.5 to 60 h. Then, fibre is removed at specified time and desorbed in 100 μL of desorption solution (acetonitrile: water 1:1) for 90 min under agitation speed of 1000 rpm. The samples extract were immediately injected to the instrument and analysed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The limit of detection of the method in gel and fish muscle was 0.01-0.07 ng mL(-1) and 0.07-0.34 ng g(-1), respectively, while the limit quantification was 0.10-0.20 ng mL(-1) in gel samples and 0.40-0.97 ng g(-1) in fish sample. The reproducibility of the method was good (5-15% RSD). The results suggest that kinetics of desorption of the compounds in fish tissue and different viscosity of gel can be determined using desorption time constant. In this study, desorption time constant which is directly related to desorption rate (diffusion kinetics) of selected drugs from the fibre to the gel matrix is faster as the viscosity of the gel matrix reduces from 2% (w/v) to 0.8% (w/v). As the concentration of gel reduces, viscosity of the gel will be reduced therefore allowing faster diffusion which invariably affect desorption time constant. Also, desorption time constant of model drugs in the fish muscle and 0.8-0.9% (w/v) gel model are similar based on free diffusion of studied compounds. In addition, in vitro and in vivo desorption time constant comparison shows that desorption time constant in an in vivo system (live fish muscle) is generally higher than an in vitro system (dead fish muscle) except for sertraline and nordiazepam. This study demonstrates SPME as a simple investigative tool to understand kinetics of desorption in an in vivo system with a goal to measure desorption rate of pharmaceuticals in fish., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A commercial hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been modified for high-speed matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) imaging using a short-pulse optical technology Nd:YVO(4) laser. The laser operating in frequency-tripled mode (lambda = 355 nm) is capable of delivering 1.5-ns pulses of energy at up to 8 microJ at 5-10 kHz and 3 microJ at 20 kHz. Experiments to improve beam homogeneity and reduce laser speckle by mechanical vibration of the fibre-optic laser delivery system are reported along with data from trial and tissue imaging experiments using the modified instrument. The laser appeared to yield best results for MALDI-MS imaging experiments when operating at repetition rates 5-10 kHz. Combining this with raster imaging allowed images of rat brain sections to be recorded in 37 min. Similarly, images of the distribution of peptides in "on-tissue" digest experiments from tumour tissues were recorded in 1 h and 30 min rather than the 8-h acquisition time previously used. A brief investigation of targeted protein analysis/imaging by multiple reaction monitoring experiments "on-tissue" is reported. A total of 26 transitions were recorded over a 3-s cycle time and images of abundant proteins were successfully recorded.

Following the publication of the new British Standard for the measurement of light reflectance values (LRVs), Keith Oakes, technical director for commercial and industrial flooring manufacturer Gradus, examines the importance of visual contrast in healthcare building design.

The accumulation of ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and fish sex steroid receptors was investigated using two separate controlled fish exposures to final effluent from a bleached sulfite/groundwood mill in New Brunswick, Canada. In the first experiment, hepatic tissue extracts from exposed fish were fractionated according to lipophilicity. Fractions with different octanol-water (Kow) partition coefficients were tested for the presence of bioavailable chemicals that function as ligands for the AhR in H4IIE cells, rainbow trout hepatic estrogen receptors (ER), goldfish testicular androgen receptors (AR), and goldfish sex steroid binding protein (SSBP). Fish accumulated ligands for each receptor after 4-d exposure to effluent. Single fractions contained ligands for the AhR and the ER, while multiple fractions competed for the AR and SSBP. Fish also accumulated ligands for the AhR and SSBP from Saint John River dilution water, indicating upstream sources of bioactive substances. Semipermeable-membrane devices deployed concurrently with fish accumulated ligands from effluent for all receptors except the ER. In the second experiment, accumulated ligands were evaluated after exposure of fish to effluent for two different durations and following a depuration period. Hepatic mixed function oxygenase activity and whole-liver hormonal activity, measured as binding to SSBP, returned to background following 6 d depuration and were reduced but still significant after 12-d exposure to effluent. Whole-liver extract affinities for the AR were maintained after extended exposure and depuration, indicating the potential for AR ligands to bioaccumulate. The accumulation of AhR ligands and ligands for sex steroid receptors provides a mechanistic linkage to effects on growth, development, and performance of fish exposed to effluent from this and other mills.

Defined regions of the rfb gene cluster of Group E1 Salmonella enterica serovar Anatum were introduced into a mutated derivative of this strain that lacks O-polysaccharide polymerase activity. Three different kinds of assays performed on the various transformants all indicate that two functional wzy (rfc) genes reside within the Group E1 Salmonella rfb gene cluster. The product of ORF9.6, positioned near the center of the rfb gene cluster, joins O-polysaccharide repeat units together by alpha-glycosidic linkages to produce antigen O10, the major serological determinant of Group E1 S. enterica. The product of ORF17.4, positioned at the downstream end of the rfb gene cluster, can join repeat units together by beta-glycosidic linkages to produce antigen O15, the major serological determinant of Group E2 S. enterica.

A retrospective study was done on patients treated with dental implants at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. An extensive recall of patients treated was accomplished. Each patient was clinically evaluated, radiographs were made, and the patients were asked to complete a survey. The results were not statistically analyzed but are reported simply as raw data.