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Purpose: To determine what is known about climate change health effects for gender diverse (GD) populations, and identify gaps in research, practice, education, and policy. Design/Methods: A scoping review was conducted. Findings: Twenty‐seven information sources met inclusion criteria. Natural disasters and inadequate disaster relief responses were identified as an overarching health threat for GD populations. Within this theme, four sub‐themes emerged. No other climate‐related health impacts for GD populations were mentioned in the sources reviewed. Conclusions: There are major gaps in knowledge about health implications of climate change for GD populations. Gender‐sensitive data must be collected in order to better understand these threats and detect disparities. Currently most practice and policy recommendations focus on disaster relief. More research on the broad effects of climate change on GD populations is urgently needed to inform practice and policy. Clinical relevance: Climate change amplifies existing risks of adverse health outcomes. Because of discrimination, stigma, and violence, gender diverse individuals are particularly vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a unique lateral flow immunochromatographic biosensing platform is introduced. The platform consists of a nitrocellulose membrane modified with a hydrogel “porous wall” to capture the detection probes without the need of pre-printed biological elements (such as DNA or antibodies), enabling direct visual detection. As a proof of concept, polyacrylamide and agarose hydrogels are incorporated into a nitrocellulose membrane to successfully separate and capture different nanoparticle probes (e.g. gold nanoparticles and quantum dots) in two distinct lines. This new design compliments the current lateral flow devices, taking a step towards universal detection strips as a sensing platform for lateral flow assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold (Au) nanoparticles of varying sizes were synthesized during an outreach activity to introduce students to the size-dependent optical properties of nanomaterials. For the fabrication of Au nanoparticles of varying sizes, a seeded growth method was employed. In the first part of the activity, students performed the Frens method to obtain Au seeds. Students then used these seeds in the second part to conduct a seed-mediated synthesis, and obtained Au nanoparticles of a wide size range. The size differences in the particles were evident by eyesight due to color changes in the nanoparticle solutions. In addition to observations made about color, the nanoparticles were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, and a red shift in the peak wavelength of the extinction spectra of the Au nanoparticles was observed when nanoparticles were grown larger in size. This activity demonstrates a straightforward approach to seed-mediated nanoparticle growth and is applicable to both high school and undergraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the ritual specialists and initiates of the three Adzima shrines in the southeastern Volta Region of Ghana and their criticism of Christianity, particularly Neo-Pentecostalist discourse that encourages adherents to sever lineage-based ties to deities and ancestors. The influence of Christianity is an issue that the Adzima shrine ritual specialists deal with on a regular basis since different types of people are drawn into hierarchical relationships with the Adzima deities through the fiasidiwo initiates. The Adzima ritual specialists have to manage shifting perspectives on the appropriate relationship between persons embedded in lineage structures and with deities, which could undermine the meanings attributed to the fiasidiwo and potentially threaten the initiates’ livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the barriers and facilitators nurses experience in addressing social needs in the United States and the associated outcomes of addressing these needs in adults in the ambulatory care setting. Design: A systematic review with inductive thematic and narrative synthesis. Data Sources: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase from 2010 through 2021. Review Methods: Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews; Risk of Bias‐CASP and the JBI checklist; Certainty of evidence‐GRADE‐CERQual assessment. Results: After duplicates were removed, 1331 titles and abstracts were screened, and a full‐text review was performed on 189 studies. Twenty‐two studies met inclusion criteria. The most frequently cited barriers to addressing social needs were lack of resources, workload burden, and lack of education in social needs. The most cited facilitators were engaging the person and family in decision‐making, a well‐integrated standardized data tracking and referral documentation system, clear communication within the clinic and with community partners, and specialized education and training. Seven studies measured the nurse's impact of screening for and addressing social needs, and outcomes improved in most of these studies. Conclusion: Barriers and facilitators specific to nurses in the ambulatory setting and associated outcomes were synthesized. Limited evidence suggests that screening for social needs by nurses may impact outcomes by decreasing hospitalizations, decreasing emergency department utilization, and improving self‐efficacy towards medical and social services navigation. Impact: These findings inform practice and facilitate changes within nursing towards care that accounts for a person's individual social needs in ambulatory care settings and are most directly applicable to nurses and administrators in the United States. Reporting Method: PRISMA guidelines, supplemented by the ENTREQ and SWiM guidelines. No Patient or Public Contribution: This systematic review is the result of work performed by the four authors exclusively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined lactobacillus growth and membrane composition in the presence of linoleic or conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Background on conjugated linoleic acid; Growth of lactobacillus species in MRS broth and milk with linoleic acid or CLA; Cell membrane fatty acid analysis after growth with linoleic acid or CLA.

Objectives Carpal tunnel syndrome ( CTS) is a common entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist that is characterized by pain, paresthesias, weakness, and loss of dexterity. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the heated lidocaine/tetracaine patch ( HLT patch) as a conservative treatment for pain of CTS. Methods Twenty adult patients (mean age = 44 ± 12 years) with pain secondary to unilateral CTS and electrodiagnostic evidence of mild-to-moderate CTS enrolled in this open-label study. Patients were treated with a single HLT patch placed over the junction of forearm and wrist on the palmar aspect of the wrist twice daily (morning and evening at 12-hour intervals) for 2 hours. At baseline and during the 2-week study, patients graded their pain intensity with an 11-point numerical rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain). Pain interference with general activity, work, and sleep was evaluated with a similar 0-to-10-point scale. Results Fifteen patients completed the 14-day treatment period. Mean average pain intensity score decreased from 5.1 ± 1.5 at baseline to 2.5 ± 1.6 at end of study in the per-protocol population ( P < 0.001). Two-thirds of the patients demonstrated clinically meaningful pain relief (≥ 30% reduction in average pain score), with 40% of the patients reaching this threshold by the third treatment day. Similar improvements were observed for pain interference scores. The HLT patch was generally well tolerated. Conclusion The HLT patch resulted in clinically meaningful reduction in pain intensity in the majority of patients with mild-to-moderate CTS and may represent a targeted nonsurgical treatment for pain associated with CTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of green gasoline, jet, and diesel biofuels from waste greases was achieved using a novel hydrothermal, continuous‐flow catalytic process operating under supercritical water conditions, with recycled water the only added chemical. Thermally and chemically stable catalysts were explored to optimize yields of liquid biofuels and to minimize production of gases and acidic compounds. A 50:50 mixture of brown and yellow waste greases converted into 76.6 wt% liquid biocrude (BC); the remainder converted to water and gases. Less than 0.2% of the feedstock (FS) formed carbon char (mainly amongst catalyst particles). Various tubular reactors (Inconel, Hastelloy, titanium, stainless) showed no interior defects, erosion, or mass loss after runs. The titanium catalyst was fully recovered and regenerated back to its original potency. The BC was further refined into 28%, 48%, 20%, and 4 wt%, respectively for green gasoline, jet, diesel, and bunker. Biofuels were analyzed for compound class compositions and reaction mechanisms were proposed. Hundreds of identified fuel products (C3‐C35) from processing oleic acid as a pure model compound were identified. The neat green gasoline and diesel biofuels, along with a 50% green jet blend (with petroleum Jet A), were tested in appropriate spark ignition, turbine, and diesel engines at the University of Minnesota Engine Labs. The biofuels achieved 107.7%, 97.2%, and 101.3% engine power performance levels relative to petroleum fuels (91‐Octane, Jet A, #2 Diesel) along with lower CO and pollutant emissions. The biofuels complied with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) fuel specifications (D4814, D7566, D975) including mandated corrosion and low sulfur limits of all three biofuels. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary fibre and probiotics may play a role in the management of diverticular disease. This systematic review synthesises the evidence on the effects of dietary fibre modifications, with or without the use of probiotics, on the incidence in older adults of asymptomatic (AS) or symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD), as well as on gastrointestinal function and symptoms. Five electronic databases were searched for studies through to December 2018. The body of evidence was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE. Nine studies were included, with mean sample ages ranging from 57 to 70 years, and three meta-analyses were performed. Only one study, with high risk of bias, measured the effect of dietary fibre on the incidence of diverticulitis. Dietary fibre supplementation improved stool weight (MD: 42 g/day, P < 0.00001; GRADE level of evidence: low), but had no significant effect on gastrointestinal symptoms (SMD: -0.13, P = 0.16; GRADE level of evidence: low) or stool transit time (MD: -3.70, P = 0.32 GRADE level of evidence: low). There was "very low" confidence for the body of evidence supporting symbiotics for AS or SUDD. A high dietary fibre intake, in line with dietary guidelines, may improve gastrointestinal function and is recommended in patients with AS or SUDD. Dietary fibre supplementation should be considered on an individualised basis to improve bowel function, while any recommendation on symbiotic supplements requires further well-designed research. Future studies should also measure the impact on the incidence of diverticulitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]