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Mupirocin (MUP) is an effective topical antibiotic with poor skin permeability; however, its skin permeability can be improved by a nanoemulsion formulation based on eucalyptus oil or eucalyptol. Despite this improvement, the nanoemulsion has limitations, such as low viscosity, low spreadability, and poor retention on the skin. To overcome these limitations, the aim of this study was to develop a nanoemulgel formulation that would enhance its rheological behaviour and physicochemical properties. The MUP nanoemulgel was prepared by incorporating a preprepared MUP nanoemulsion into Carbopol gel at a concentration of 0.75% in a 1:1 ratio. The nanoemulgel formulations were characterised and evaluated for their physicochemical and mechanical strength properties, rheological behaviour, and in vitro skin permeation and deposition, as well as antibacterial studies. Both nanoemulgels exhibited stability at temperatures of 4 and 25 °C for a period of 3 months. They had a smooth, homogenous, and consistent appearance and displayed non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour, with differences in their viscosity and spreadability. However, both nanoemulgels exhibited lower skin permeability compared to the marketed control. The local accumulation efficiency of MUP from nanoemulgel after 8 h was significantly higher than that of the control, although there was no significant difference after 24 h. Micro-CT scan imaging allowed visualisation of these findings and interpretation of the deposited drug spots within the layers of treated skin. While there were no significant differences in the antibacterial activities between the nanoemulgels and the control, the nanoemulgels demonstrated superiority over the control due to their lower content of MUP. These findings support the potential use of the nanoemulgel for targeting skin lesions where high skin deposition and low permeability are required, such as in the case of topical antibacterial agents.

The objective of this study was to investigate the accuracy of a wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor in monitoring heart rate (HR) of sheep housed in high-temperature environments. We hypothesized that the PPG sensor would be capable of differentiating low, normal, and high HR, but would struggle to produce exact HR estimates. The sensor was open source and comprised of a microprocessor (SparkFun® ThingPlus), a photoplethysmography sensor (SparkFun® MAX30101 & MAX32664), and a data storage module (SD Card 16GB), all sewn into a nylon collar with hook-and-loop closure. Sheep (n=4) were divided into 2 groups and exposed to different thermal environments in a cross-over design. The collar was placed around the neck of the sheep during the data collection phase and the manual HR were collected twice a day using a stethoscope. Precision and accuracy of numeric heart rate estimates were analyzed in R software using Pearson correlation and root mean squared prediction errors. Random forest regression was used to classify HR based on low, medium, and high to determine opportunities to leverage the PPG sensors for HR classification. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were measured to evaluate the classification approach. Our results indicated that the PPG-based sensor measured sheep HR with poor accuracy and with higher average estimates in comparison with manually measured with a stethoscope. Categorical classification of HR was also poor, with accuracies ranging from 32% to 49%. Additional work is needed focusing on data analytics, and signal optimization to further rely on PPG sensors for accurately measuring HR in sheep.

Pseudomerulius curtisii es una especie ampliamente distribuida alrededor del mundo encontrándose citada para Norteamérica, Asia, Oceanía y en Sudamérica en Brasil, siendo una especie introducida en la mayoría de estas regiones al estar estrechamente asociada a plantaciones de pino como saprofita de los mismos. Se caracteriza por presentar un basidioma efuso-reflejo tendiendo a demediado cuando crece, un pileo pubecente con una coloracion amarillo grisáceo a amarillo marrón al madurar e himenóforo merulioide amarillo a marrón rojizo segun la madurez y el contenido de humedad, exhibiendo esporas amarillentas cilíndricas a elipsoidales. El sistema hifal es monomítico conformado por hifas sinuosas, ramificadas con fíbulas ampuliformes. En este trabajo, la describimos e ilustramos en base a colecciones realizadas entre 2015 y 2022 en el nordeste de Argentina y Paraguay.

Co-morbid anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), are highly prevalent among individuals with Williams syndrome (WS). However, reports of the pharmacologic treatment of only a limited number of previous anxiety disorders in WS have appeared in the literature. Here, we review the case histories of three adolescents/young adults with WS and the treatment course of co-morbid GAD with buspirone. Treatment with buspirone was well-tolerated and resulted in sustained response in all three cases. Common medical disorders in WS are highlighted with regards to safe and appropriate pharmacologic treatment of GAD. Buspirone's generally benign side effect profile is a major benefit of its use for treating GAD in individuals with WS.

Abstract Background A validated, standardized, and feasible test to assess muscle power in older adults has recently been reported: the sit‐to‐stand (STS) muscle power test. This investigation aimed to assess the relationship between relative STS power and age and to provide normative data, cut‐off points, and minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for STS power measures in older women and men. Methods A total of 9320 older adults (6161 women and 3159 men) aged 60–103 years and 586 young and middle‐aged adults (318 women and 268 men) aged 20–60 years were included in this cross‐sectional study. Relative (normalized to body mass), allometric (normalized to height squared), and specific (normalized to legs muscle mass) muscle power values were assessed by the 30 s STS power test. Body composition was evaluated by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis, and legs skeletal muscle index (SMI; normalized to height squared) was calculated. Habitual and maximal gait speed, timed up‐and‐go test, and 6 min walking distance were collected as physical performance measures, and participants were classified into two groups: well‐functioning and mobility‐limited older adults. Results Relative STS power was found to decrease between 30–50 years (−0.05 W·kg−1·year−1; P > 0.05), 50–80 years (−0.10 to −0.13 W·kg−1·year−1; P

Abstract Background Copy-neutral absence of heterozygosity (CN-AOH) observed on a single chromosome or part of a chromosome may be indicative of uniparental disomy (UPD) and may require additional testing when such chromosomes or chromosome regions are known to harbor imprinted genes. Case presentation Here we report 2 cases of neonates that presented to clinic with hypotonia, poor oral skills including inability to feed by mouth, weak cry, no response to noxious stimulation and vertical plantar creases (case 1) and hypotonia and respiratory distress (case 2). A preliminary chromosome analysis showed normal karyotypes in both cases while the high-resolution single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray showed copy neutral absence of heterozygosity involving chromosome 15 distal long arm. In case 1, the CN-AOH involved a 28.7 Mb block from genomic coordinates 73703619_102429049. In case 2, the CN-AOH involved a 15.3 Mb block from genomic coordinates 54729197_70057534. In both cases, methylation-specific PCR did not detect an unmethylated allele for the SNRPN gene suggesting either a deletion of paternal allele or maternal UPD for chromosome 15. Since microarray analysis did not show any copy number alterations on chromosome 15, a microdeletion was ruled out. Conclusions Based on our cases, we suggest that CN-AOH on chromosome 15, even if it does not involve the critical region of 15q12q13, should warrant additional studies for diagnosis of Prader–Willi/Angelman syndromes.

Abstract Personal norms consist of individuals’ attitudes about the appropriateness of behaviour. These norms guide adolescents’ behaviour in countless domains that are fundamental for their social functioning and well-being. Peers are known to have a marked influence on adolescent risk-taking and prosocial behaviour, but little is known about how peers shape personal norms underlying those behaviours. Here we show that adolescents’ personal norms are decisively moulded by the norms of the majority and popular peers in their social network. Our experiment indicates that observing peer norms substantially impacts adolescents’ normative evaluation of risk-taking and prosocial behaviours. The majority norm had a stronger impact than the norm of a single popular peer, and norm adjustments were largest when adolescents observed strong disapproval of risk-taking or strong approval of prosocial behaviour. Our study suggests that learning about peer norms likely promotes adolescents to hold views and values supporting socially desirable behaviour.

Teachers of elementary English language arts/literacy (ELA) tend to line up behind one of two very different approaches to reading instruction. The first approach prioritizes reading comprehension strategies over content. The second rests on the idea that building background knowledge of the world, including the vocabulary that accompanies such knowledge, is a more powerful way to develop strong readers. This article explores the tension between the two approaches and suggests a role state boards of education might play in navigating these tensions.

Hypromellose, a widely used polymer in the pharmaceutical industry, is available in several grades, depending on the percentage of substitution of the methoxyl and hydroxypropyl groups and molecular weight, and in various functional forms (e.g., suitable for direct compression tableting). These differences can affect their physicomechanical properties, and so this study aims to characterise the particle size and mechanical properties of HPMC K100M polymer grades from four different vendors. Eight polymers (CR and DC grades) were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy automated image analysis particle characterisation to examine the powder’s particle morphology and particle size distribution. Bulk density, tapped density, and true density of the materials were also analysed. Flow was determined using a shear cell tester. Flat-faced polymer compacts were made at five different compression forces and the mechanical properties of the compacts were evaluated to give an indication of the powder’s capacity to form a tablet with desirable strength under specific pressures. The results indicated that the CR grades of the polymers displayed a smaller particle size and better mechanical properties compared to the DC grade HPMC K100M polymers. The DC grades, however, had better flow properties than their CR counterparts. The results also suggested some similarities and differences between some of the polymers from the different vendors despite the similarity in substitution level, reminding the user that care and consideration should be given when substitution is required.

Purpose: This study describes participant diversity in Williams syndrome (WS) intervention studies. Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify prospective treatment studies including participants with WS. Data was extracted on the reporting of and information provided on age, sex, cognitive ability, socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. Results: Eleven eligible articles were identified. Reporting rates of demographic factors varied considerably, with the highest rates for age and sex (100%) and the lowest reporting rates for race (18%) and ethnicity (9%). Combining demographic data from the two studies that reported on race and/or ethnicity (n = 33), 88% of participants were White. The combined participant mean age was 20.9 years. Conclusion: There is a low frequency of reporting on several demographic factors including socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity in WS intervention studies. There is a need for increased representation of racial and ethnic minority groups, older participants, and more cognitively impaired patients in WS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to develop a novel temperature and pressure-controlled hybrid system (Cent-Hydro) for large-scale nanofiber production. Nanofibers from a hydrophilic carrier matrix were prepared using the Cent-Hydro system. This study explores the effect of increasing working temperature on the surface tension and viscosity of polymer solutions. The Cent-Hydro system was calibrated through the process of jet formation, and spinning parameters were identified for the jet path. The formation of fingers in front of the thin liquid occurred due to Rayleigh–Taylor instability, and a lower concentration of polymer solution favoured the development of thinner and longer fingers. The critical angular velocity and initial velocity for jet formation were obtained when the balance between surface tension, centrifugal force, and viscous force was achieved. The effect of increasing rotational speed and working temperature on finger velocity and length was experimentally evaluated, concluding that an increase in working temperature increases finger velocity and length. Additionally, the effect of increasing rotational speed, polymer concentration, and working temperature on the diameter of the nanofiber was evaluated. Overall, the Cent-Hydro system presents a compelling proposition for large-scale nanofiber production, offering distinct advantages over conventional methods and paving the way for advancements in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Developmental outcomes for children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are optimised if their needs are identified early. Yet, health workers miss vital opportunities to identify and respond to FASD due to a lack of support, knowledge and skills. Methods: Through surveys and interviews, our study investigated what child and family health workers in an Australian metropolitan local health district understand, already do and want to learn about FASD. Results: The study provided evidence of low FASD knowledge and confidence and a lack of referral options with some workers 'patching together' care planning in a 'referral black hole'. Qualitative data provided insight into how skilled clinicians engage families in FASD assessment and negotiate gaps in clinical knowledge. Discussion and Conclusions: Health workers in this study requested high‐quality training and the development of FASD practice guidelines to improve role clarity and clinical impact when working with FASD populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Nuts are nutrient-rich and reported to provide some cognitive and cardiometabolic health benefits, but limited studies have focused on older adults. This study investigated the cross-sectional relationship between habitual nut intake, dietary pattern and quality, cognition and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in older adults. Methods Older adults (≥ 60 years) from the NHANES 2011-12 and 2013-14 cohorts, who had complete data on cognitive function (as CERAD total, delayed recall, animal fluency and digit-symbol substitution test) and variables to calculate the Fatty Liver Index (FLI), an indicator of NAFLD, were included (n = 1848). Nut intake and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index 2015) were determined using two 24-hour diet recalls. Participants were categorised into one of four groups based on their habitual nut intake: non-consumers (0 g/d), low intake (0.1–15.0 g/d), moderate intake (15.1–30.0 g/d) or met recommendation (> 30 g/d), with all outcomes compared between these nut intake groups. Results Cognitive scores of older adults were the lowest in non-consumers and significantly highest in the moderate intake group, with no further increase in those who consumed nuts more than 30 g/d (p

Abstract Social media data is a rich source of information to assess human activities in catastrophic events. Here, we use social media data to understand how the 2019 Brazilian oil spill influenced social attitudes. Data were collected from the globally popular Instagram platform between August 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020. First, we manually identified the 5 most popular (portuguese language) hashtags related to the oil spill #oleonononordeste; #desastreambiental; #marsemoleo; #sosnordeste; #marsempetroleo. In the sequence, we collected information on captions, post metadata and users associated with posts retrieved using the selected hashtags. We identified a total of 7,413 posts. These posts were grouped in topics: government (47.76%), protest (24.37%), volunteers (24.45%), biodiversity (0.003%), origin (0.006%), tourism (0.008%) and others (0.016%). All topics had the peak of posts in October and November 2019. Nevertheless, interest in the oil spill was temporary, with most posts appearing in the 2-4 months after the beginning of the disaster. Our findings illustrate the enormous potential of using social media data for understanding and monitoring human engagement with environmental disasters, but also suggest that conservationists and environmental groups may only have a limited ‘window of opportunity’ to engage and mobilize public support for remediation and restoration efforts.

Introduction The REFORM (REhabilitation FOR Musculoskeletal conditions) trial is a non-inferiority randomised controlled trial (n=210) designed to determine whether a supported home exercise programme is as good or better than a course of face-to-face physiotherapy for the management of some musculoskeletal conditions. The trial is currently being conducted across Sydney government hospitals in Australia. This process evaluation will run alongside the REFORM trial. It combines qualitative and quantitative data to help explain the trial results and determine the feasibility of rolling out supported home exercise programmes in settings similar to the REFORM trial.Methods and analysis Two theoretical frameworks underpin our process evaluation methodology: the Realist framework (context, mechanism, outcomes) considers the causal assumptions as to why a supported home exercise programme may be as good or better than face-to-face physiotherapy in terms of the context, mechanisms and outcomes of the trial. The RE-AIM framework describes the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance of the intervention. These two frameworks will be broadly used to guide this process evaluation using a mixed-methods approach. For example, qualitative data will be derived from interviews with patients, healthcare professionals and stakeholders, and quantitative data will be collected to determine the cost and feasibility of providing supported home exercise programmes. These data will be analysed iteratively before the analysis of the trial results and will be triangulated with the results of the primary and secondary outcomes.Ethics and dissemination This trial will be conducted in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2018) and the Note for Good Clinical Practice (CPMP/ICH-135/95). Ethical approval was obtained on 17 March 2017 from the Northern Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (trial number: HREC/16HAWKE/431-RESP/16/287) with an amendment for the process evaluation approved on 4 February 2020. The results of the process evaluation will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.Trial registration number ACTRN12619000065190.

The Southern Ocean houses a diverse and productive community of organisms. Unicellular eukaryotic diatoms are the main primary producers in this environment, where photosynthesis is limited by low concentrations of dissolved iron and large seasonal fluctuations in light, temperature and the extent of sea ice. How diatoms have adapted to this extreme environment is largely unknown. Here we present insights into the genome evolution of a cold-adapted diatom from the Southern Ocean, Fragilariopsis cylindrus, based on a comparison with temperate diatoms. We find that approximately 24.7 per cent of the diploid F. cylindrus genome consists of genetic loci with alleles that are highly divergent (15.1 megabases of the total genome size of 61.1 megabases). These divergent alleles were differentially expressed across environmental conditions, including darkness, low iron, freezing, elevated temperature and increased CO2. Alleles with the largest ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitutions also show the most pronounced condition-dependent expression, suggesting a correlation between diversifying selection and allelic differentiation. Divergent alleles may be involved in adaptation to environmental fluctuations in the Southern Ocean.