Multi-segment models for kinetic analysis of women during pregnancy: A systematic review.

Background: During pregnancy, significant physiological, morphological, and hormonal changes profoundly affect women's biomechanics, increasing the risk of falls and musculoskeletal complaints, especially in the third trimester. To understand movement adaptations and musculoskeletal disorders in pregnant women, kinetic analysis using pregnant-specific multi-segment or musculoskeletal models is essential. This review aims to evaluate the development, applications and limitations of such models intended for kinetic analysis in pregnancy.

Twenty-Eight Days Later: Emergency Diagnoses Associated With Increased Risk of Readmission, a Retrospective Observational Study of Older Adults.

Aims: To describe diagnostic categories and comorbidities associated with increased risk of readmission within 28 days among older adults.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of all hospital admissions following ED attendance by patients aged ≥ 60 years between July 2020 and June 2023. Index and subsequent 28-day readmission were identified using ED data and hospital discharge records.

Gestational diabetes detection thresholds and infant growth, nutrition, and neurodevelopment at 12-18 months: a prospective cohort study within a randomized trial.

Objective: To assess the impact of gestational diabetes(GDM) detection thresholds on infant growth, nutrition, and neurodevelopment at 12-18 months.

Design: Prospective cohort study within the GEMS trial(ACTRN12615000290594), which randomized pregnant women to detection of GDM using lower or higher glycemic criteria. The main outcomes were overweight/rapid weight gain; food approach appetitive score; energy intake; cognitive z-score.

Neurodegenerative Diseases in Male Former First-Class New Zealand Rugby Players.

Background: Growing concern surrounds the risk of neurodegenerative diseases in high-level collision sports, but research on Rugby Union's connection to these diseases is limited.

Objective: This study sought to examine the long-term neurodegenerative disease risk associated with participation in high-level Rugby Union ('rugby'), utilising whole-population administrative records.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study in New Zealand compared males born between 1920 and 1984 who were active in high-level (provincial or higher) rugby between 1950 and 2000 (n = 12,861) with males from the general population (n = 2,394,300), matched by age, ethnicity, and birthplace.

Performance progression of youth and Junior triathletes racing world triathlon sprint and super sprint races.

Europe stages highly competitive Youth and Junior competitions. Results from 46 sprint and super sprint European triathlon events between 2021 and 2023 included 2137 competition data entries of 494 males and 1576 entries of 351 females. The competition were converted to average velocity to account for competition distance variability.

Does a counterforce brace reduce common extensor tendon loading during a wrist extension task? An in vivo study.

This study assessed the biomechanical effect of a counterforce brace on the common extensor origin (CEO) tendon at the elbow via the measurement of shear wave velocity (SWV) using ultrasound. The counterforce brace was hypothesised to reduce SWV, which is a proxy measure of tendon stiffness, whilst the wrist and finger extensors were contracting at different levels of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). In this cross-sectional study, nineteen healthy participants (age±SD: 30±9) were included in the study.

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Afghan Evacuee Resettlement Programme in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In 2021, following the Taliban's control of Afghanistan, Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) welcomed over 1,700 Afghan nationals at risk due to their association with NZ agencies. The New Settlers Family and Community Trust (NFACT) was contracted to provide tailored resettlement support. This study evaluated NFACT's Afghan evacuee resettlement programme using a mixed-methods approach, including a cross-sectional survey, interviews, and focus groups with Afghan evacuees and NFACT staff.

Acceptability and feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention for pain management before total knee arthroplasty: a pilot trial.

Background: Although psychological factors predict the development of persistent pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), psychological interventions to prevent persistent pain are under-explored. This pilot trial evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of a cognitive-behavioural intervention targeting risk factors for post-surgical pain among patients scheduled for TKA (UTN: U1111-1243-1067/ACTRN12621001095853).

Methods: Patients with elevated expectations of post-surgical pain and anxiety were recruited from TKA waiting lists.

A survey assessing the impact of symptoms related to the menstrual cycle and perceptions of workplace productivity: considerations for employer-sponsored menstrual health programs.

Background: Hormonal-related symptoms experienced during natural or contraceptive-driven menstrual cycles have implications on work-related productivity; however, employer-sponsored menstrual health resources are widely unavailable. Actionable research-based evidence is needed to develop menstrual health programs that proactively help working females mitigate their hormonal-related symptoms and optimize their hormone profiles and work-related performance. This study sought to evaluate the prevalence and severity of hormonal-related symptoms and assess the directional impact of hormonal-related symptoms on work-related productivity across cyclical hormone phases.

Exploring child abuse and neglect responses: Qualitative insights from oral health practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Background: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) remain significant concerns in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), with persistent inequities affecting indigenous Māori communities. Oral health practitioners (OHPs) are uniquely positioned to support CAN prevention and response through regular interactions with children via national dental care programs.

Objective: To explore the experiences and perspectives of OHPs in CAN prevention, identification, and response, and identify actionable strategies to enhance their responsiveness across dental settings.

Comparison of Stiffness Measurements of Wooden Rods Using Acoustic Guided Wave and Static Bending Test Techniques.

Traditionally, mechanical bending tests are used to measure the stiffness of lumber, which is generally represented by the static modulus of elasticity (MoE). However, it is desirable to measure the stiffness of wood before it is processed into lumber. Acoustic nondestructive testing techniques are therefore the main techniques used by the wood industry to estimate the dynamic MoE of wood.

Transforming Pedagogical Practices and Teacher Identity Through Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis: A Case Study of Novice EFL Teachers in China.

This study investigates the evolving pedagogical strategies and professional identity development of two novice college English teachers in China through a semester-long classroom-based inquiry. Drawing on Norris's Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis (MIA), it analyzes 270 min of video-recorded lessons across three instructional stages, supported by visual transcripts and pitch-intensity spectrograms. The analysis reveals each teacher's transformation from textbook-reliant instruction to student-centered pedagogy, facilitated by multimodal strategies such as gaze, vocal pitch, gesture, and head movement.

Nanoparticle-Based Delivery Strategies for Combating Drug Resistance in Cancer Therapeutics.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a formidable barrier to successful cancer treatment, driven by mechanisms such as efflux pump overexpression, enhanced DNA repair, evasion of apoptosis and the protective characteristics of the tumour microenvironment. Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have emerged as promising platforms capable of addressing these challenges by enhancing intracellular drug accumulation, enabling targeted delivery and facilitating stimuli-responsive and controlled release. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying MDR and critically examines recent advances in nanoparticle strategies developed to overcome it.

Molecular Crosstalk and Therapeutic Synergy: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Cannabidiol in Oral Cancer Treatment.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounting for a significant portion of cases. Despite advancements in treatment, only modest gains have been made in HNSCC/OSCC control. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have emerged as targeted therapies for OSCC in clinical trials.

Investigating the relationship between gut microbiota and electrocortical signatures of feedback processing: an ERP study.

Rationale: Evaluative processing of action outcome is considered crucial for learning and adaptive adjustments of behaviour. Feedback-related negativity (FRN) is an event-related potential elicited by feedback presentation, with implicated neural sources in the anterior cingulate cortex. Bidirectional communications within the brain-gut-microbiota axis modulate cognition and behaviour, and microbial composition has been associated with medial prefrontal cortex function and clinical risk for depression.

Return to sport (RTS) tests and criteria following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR): a scoping review.

Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery is a common procedure to restore knee stability and enable athletes to return to sport (RTS). This scoping review aimed to explore RTS tests and criteria used in decision-making following ACLR surgery.

Methods: A scoping review methodology was undertaken.

External Load Between Floater Types and Regular Players in Different Inferiority Game Formats in Professional Men's Soccer.

Purpose: This study examined the external load of different floater types and regular players (RPs) in small-sided games, as well as the effects of low and high inferiority on RPs in professional men's soccer.

Methods: Twenty-four male soccer players from the Greek top-tier league participated in small-sided games over an 8-week in-season period. The games were played without goalkeepers on 4 minigoals, with a 2-touch restriction for inside floaters and a 1-touch restriction for outside floaters.

Effectiveness of Exercise-Based Interventions on Molecular Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Survivors: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: HNC poses significant health challenges globally with over 650 000 new cases annually. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of exercise for many cancer types, with several exploring the effects of exercise on various molecular biomarkers. However, no study has systematically explored these effects among HNC survivors.

The global landscape of the evolving nurses' roles and core competency in primary healthcare: An expanding umbrella review.

Background: A transformative primary healthcare system that delivers effective, efficient and equitable care services is imperative to tackle the ever-emerging challenges to population health such as the surging major lifestyle risks, mental health issues, the burden of chronic care and novel infectious diseases. Nurses, as one of the major service stakeholders in this global agenda, needs to proactively seek role advancement and competency development in primary healthcare. This process can be facilitated by seeking a comprehensive understanding of the global landscape of nurses' roles and competencies in primary healthcare.

Identifying the Bridges Between Post Concussion Symptoms and Psychological Distress in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using Network Analysis.

Objective: Psychological distress in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can exacerbate post-concussion symptoms (PCS) and prolong recovery. However, little is known about the symptom-to-symptom relationships between psychological distress and PCS. Understanding the connection between these constructs can inform patient education and identify areas for treatment.

Priming Exercises and Their Potential Impact on Speed and Power Performance: A Narrative Review.

Improving the competitive level of elite athletes is always a considerable challenge for coaches, regardless of the sport discipline or a training phase. From this perspective, researchers and sport scientists continuously seek more effective training methods, capable of inducing acute changes or long-term adaptations in athletes with diverse training backgrounds. Recently, priming exercises have emerged as a promising approach to enhance athletic performance over short periods of time, either before sport-specific training sessions or official competitions.

Impacting the rugby tackle: risk factors and mechanisms for concussion and musculoskeletal tackle-related injury - a systematic review and Delphi consensus to inform intervention strategies for risk reduction.

To (1) systematically review the literature to identify which match-related risk factors and mechanisms of rugby tackle events result in musculoskeletal injury, concussion, head injury assessments, and head impacts or head accelerations; and (2) identify the perceived importance and feasibility of potential intervention strategies for tackle-related injury reduction in the rugby codes.A systematic search was performed using Preferred Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Risk factors/mechanisms associated with tackle injuries across the rugby codes were extracted.

Revisiting Genetic Data Stewardship Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Call to Action on Integrating Māori Data Sovereignty.

Genetic data, including environmental DNA (eDNA), are regularly used to monitor escalating biodiversity concerns globally. In Aotearoa New Zealand, biodiversity is unique and cherished-many species are taonga (treasured) and cared for by kaitiaki (guardians with customary responsibilities), specifically mana whenua with custodial rights (Māori; the Indigenous people of New Zealand). Discussions are currently underway regarding the development of a reference DNA barcode database for biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve outcomes for biosecurity surveillance and biodiversity assessment.