Nurses' Views on Barriers to Oral Care in Non-Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Optimal oral care is essential in preventing non-ventilator hospital-associated pneumonia and enhancing patient comfort. However, nurses' clinical oral care practices for patients not on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit are both underreported and understudied.

Aim: To explore intensive care nurses' clinical oral care practices for patients not on mechanical ventilation in intensive care units.

One-Step Radical α-α Coupling Accesses Helical Near-Infrared 3-Pyrrolyl Boron Dipyrromethene Dimers.

The direct α-α coupling of 3-pyrrolyl boron dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs) affords helical near-infrared (NIR)-active dimers in one step via a radical Pd-catalyzed process. X-ray analysis reveals Z-type helical packing stabilized by π-π stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. These dimers showed pronounced bathochromic absorption shifts compared to monomers and solvent-dependent charge-transfer bands up to 905 nm with fluorescence quenching.

Neck flexion weakness predicts respiratory dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

: Neck flexion (NF) weakness is a frequently observed clinical feature in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), particularly in advanced disease. The aim of the present study was to assess whether NF weakness could be a clinical biomarker for development of respiratory dysfunction. : Sixty-two ALS patients were prospectively recruited at Brain and Nerve Research Center.

Response to Comment on: Hepatitis B virus reactivation following T-cell engager therapy in multiple myeloma despite negative hepatitis B core antibody serology: implications for screening in patients with haematological malignancies.

Not available.

Antibiotic Therapy for Pyelonephritis in the Emergency Department.

Objectives: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a common diagnosis among patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). It is treated by empiric antibiotics within the ED. With a rise in antimicrobial resistance globally, it is unknown whether patients are being managed with empiric antibiotics that are appropriate for the causative organisms of APN.

In-Flight Deterioration Occurs Early in Aeromedical Trauma Patients.

Reliably defining the risk of adverse in-flight events in aeromedical trauma patients could enable more informed pre-departure treatment and guide central asset allocation to achieve better system-level outcomes. Unfortunately, the current literature base specifically examining the in-flight period is sparse. Flight duration is often considered a proxy for the risk of in-flight deterioration; however, there is limited data to support this commonly held assumption.

Introduction to the soft wearable sensors themed collection.

Soft wearable sensors offer promising potential for advanced diagnostics, therapeutics, and human-machine interfaces. Unlike conventional devices that are bulky and rigid, often compromising skin integrity, comfort, and user compliance, soft wearable sensors are flexible, conformable, and better suited to the dynamic skin surface. This improved mechanical integration enhances signal fidelity and device performance, while also enabling safer, more comfortable, and continuous physiological monitoring in real-world environments.

Sex- and gender-responsive management of anxiety disorders: future pathways for research, education, policy and practice.

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in Australia and are more common in women relative to men, as well as transgender and gender diverse people relative to cisgender people. Sex and gender differences in anxiety prevalence are likely driven by a combination of factors including differential exposure to different types of stressors and trauma, gendered enculturation of different coping responses and perceived stigma of mental illness, differences in medical comorbidities, and differences in symptom presentations. The established impact of gonadal hormone changes on anxiety risk and symptom presentation across the female lifespan underscore the need for sex- and gender-responsive management of anxiety disorders.

Sex distribution in tuberculosis disease in children, adolescents, and adults in a low-incidence country: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

Aim: Globally, tuberculosis incidence shows notable sex disparity, with higher rates observed in males. While this pattern is well documented in adults from high-incidence countries, the influence of sex on tuberculosis incidence in children and adolescents, particularly in low-incidence settings, remains unclear. This study investigated sex-specific tuberculosis incidence rates across all age groups, focusing on adolescents, in a low-incidence country.

Scoping review of variation in clinical guidelines for delivery of injectable long-acting penicillin across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Objective: This scoping review explores existing clinical guidelines on administration of benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin L-A, Pfizer Australia) in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The objective is to understand existing delivery guidance to address variation in care and cultural safety considerations, to support messaging during periods of stockout and to inform planning for new administration techniques.

Data Sources: Semi-structured Google search to identify publicly available clinical resources for each jurisdiction of Australia and for New Zealand.

Post-traumatic growth following the death of a parent from homicide: A reflective perspective from adulthood.

Although there is considerable research into the impact of homicide on surviving family members, research is limited on subjective experiences of those who lost a parent due to homicide during childhood. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, we conducted and analyzed in-depth semi-structured interviews, to explore lived experiences and perspectives of post-traumatic growth with adults who lost a parent due to homicide as a child. We developed five group experiential themes: 1.

High-resolution longitudinal changes in the cortical morphology of youth with family history of bipolar disorder.

Background: Individuals with a family history of bipolar disorder are at increased risk of developing affective psychopathology. Longitudinal imaging studies in young people with familial risk have been limited, and cortical developmental trajectories in the progression towards illness remain obscure.

Aims: To establish high-resolution longitudinal differences in cortical structure that are associated with risk of bipolar disorder.

Predictive role of loneliness on mortality before the age 85 years among mid- to later-life adults in the United States: a 10-year retrospective cohort study.

Aims: Loneliness is a common public health concern, particularly among mid- to later-life adults. However, its impact on early mortality (deaths occurring before reaching the oldest old age of 85 years) remains underexplored. This study examined the predictive role of loneliness on early mortality across different age groups using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

Knowledge and Perceptions of Hepatitis B in Immigrant Populations: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Research.

An estimated 254 million people live with hepatitis B worldwide, with only 13% of people diagnosed and 3% receiving antiviral treatment. Without timely treatment, people with hepatitis B risk developing liver damage and liver cancer. In countries like Australia, where most people with hepatitis B are born in countries with higher prevalence, it is important that the knowledge and perceptions of hepatitis B in immigrant populations are explored to improve engagement in care.

The Hypometabolic State of the Migraine Brain: Is a Ketogenic Diet the Answer?

Background: Migraine pathophysiology involves a constellation of metabolic abnormalities. These interlinked contributory factors include mitochondrial dysfunction, an altered gut microbiome, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, weight imbalance, and altered glucose metabolism. The ketogenic diet is an emerging therapy which may restore hypometabolism seen in chronic migraine.

Long-Lived Charge-Transfer State and Interfacial Lock in Double-Cable Conjugated Polymers Enable Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells.

The donor/acceptor (D/A) interfaces in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) critically govern exciton dissociation and molecular diffusion, determining both efficiency and stability. Herein, we design a double-cable conjugated polymer, SC-1F, to insert into a physically-blended D/A system to optimize the interface. We have found that SC-1F spontaneously segregates to the interface through favorable miscibility and heterogeneous nucleation with the acceptor.

High Shear Conversion of Elemental Bismuth in Water Under Air to 2D Bismuth Oxycarbonate.

2D Bismuth oxycarbonate (2D BOC) nanosheets have a unique layered structure with many applications, including capture and reduction of carbon dioxide. Processing powdered elemental bismuth in water under ambient air conditions using a vortex fluidic device (VFD) results in the formation of 2D BOC without the need of surfactants or other excipients. The induced high shear mechanical energy in the form of micron/submicron topological typhoon like spinning top (ST) fluid flow drives the conversion, which we propose initially melts the metal particles which are spontaneously oxidised at the liquid-quartz tube interface to form 2D bismuth oxide (BiO).

A cross-scale analysis for the determinants of bonding dynamics on the distributions of rolling velocities of cells in microvessels.

The interplay between subcellular adhesion dynamics and cellular-scale deformations under shear flow drives key physiological and pathological processes. While both bond kinetics and fluid-cell interactions have been extensively studied in rolling adhesion, how bond characteristics quantitatively determine cellular velocity distributions remains unclear. In this study, we systematically investigate how force-free bond kinetics and intrinsic mechanical properties govern rolling adhesion dynamics, using macroscopic velocity distributions as a reference.

Communication about sexuality for adolescents with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs: A scoping review with framework synthesis.

Aim: To understand communication about sexuality for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and complex communication needs.

Method: We systematically searched primary research on adolescents aged 10 to 24 years with CP and/or complex communication needs. We coded the primary evidence against themes derived from a theoretical framework analysis.

Key Mediators Reducing Socioeconomic Inequality in Early Childhood Caries.

Objectives: Socioeconomic status (SES) has a significant effect on the burden of early childhood caries (ECC), yet addressing SES disparities remains challenging. This study aimed to identify and quantify the most impactful mediator linking SES effect to the occurrence of ECC using advanced causal mediation analysis, to inform targeted interventions that reduce SES-related disparities in ECC.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Study of Mothers' and Infants' Life Events, a cohort of 2,182 mother-child dyads recruited from Adelaide's 3 largest public hospitals (2013-2014).

A Reaction-Diffusion-Coupled Strategy for Ampere-Level Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia.

Ampere-level electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (eNRA) offers a carbon-neutral alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. However, its energy efficiency is critically hampered by the inherent conflict between the reaction and diffusion. Herein, we propose a reaction-diffusion-coupled strategy implemented on a well-tailored CuCoNiRuPt high-entropy alloy aerogel (HEAA) to simultaneously realize energy barrier homogenization and accelerate mass transport, endowing ampere-level eNRA with a high energy efficiency.

Debate: Social media in children and young people - time for a ban? Beyond the ban - empowering parents and schools to keep adolescents safe on social media.

In this article, we examine Australia's landmark decision to ban social media access for children under the age of 16, set to take effect in December 2025. While the legislation aims to protect young people from the harms of social media, including its impact on mental health and wellbeing, the evidence base underpinning the ban remains inconclusive, with most studies unable to establish causality. Drawing on parallels with adolescent alcohol prevention, we argue that prohibition alone is unlikely to be effective.

A Double-Edged Sword Perspective on Young Australians' Use of Social Media: A Structured Narrative Review.

Issue Addressed: Social media's potential use has been underestimated in preventive interventions targeting young people despite its importance in psychosocial development. This structured narrative review examined both the positive and negative use of social media by young Australians and its health impacts with a focus on social media-based interventions.

Method: Following a narrative review approach, 34 papers were analysed from four databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Embase) from 2010 to 2025 to provide indications for leveraging the positive aspects.

Evaluating Amino Acid Profiles and Blood Gas Concentrations Between Single and Twin Merino Newborn Lambs.

As sheep production standards progress, and animals are bred for high production in terms of the number and weight of lambs weaned per ewe, research has identified a difference in the physiology of single lambs compared to multiple born lambs. The current study aimed to report the baseline amino acid (AA) profiles and blood gas concentrations in newborn, Merino single and twin lambs. From 120 days of gestation, 50 single-bearing and 50 twin-bearing, naturally mated Merino ewes were monitored for signs of approaching parturition.