We examined the association between influenza vaccination policies at acute care hospitals and influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel for the 2021–22 influenza season. Mandatory vaccination and masking for unvaccinated personnel were associated with increased odds of vaccination. Hospital employees had higher vaccination coverage than licensed independent practitioners.

Fatty acids are essential molecules, which function as structural components, energy sources, and signaling mediators(1). Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) is the largest fat depot and plays a crucial role in maintaining health and homeostasis(2,3). While regulation and health impacts of circulating fatty acid levels are well established, less is known about the regulation of fatty acid levels within adipose tissue itself. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary and genetic contribution to fatty acid contents in adipose tissue and identify the interaction between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and diet on adipose fatty acids.

In 427 healthy female twins from TwinsUK, 18 types of fatty acids were measured in SAT biopsies alongside genotype, RNA-Seq and clinical phenotypes. Dietary intake was collected by food frequency questionnaire. The associations between dietary intake and adipose fatty acids were tested with linear mixed models, adjusting for age, smoking, physical activity, index of multiple deprivation, energy intake, and relatedness. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed adjusting for age.

The association between dietary scores, food intake, nutrient intake and fatty acid levels in adipose tissue were examined. Most dietary scores were positively correlated with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) but negatively correlated with trans-unsaturated fatty acid (TFA) (PFDR < 0.05). We highlighted the positive association between polyunsaturated margarine and fish intake and PUFA levels, as well as butter and cream intake and saturated fatty acid (SFA) levels (PFDR < 0.05). Negative associations between fresh red meat including lamb and beef, butter, and cream intake and PUFA levels in adipose tissue were observed (PFDR < 0.05). Regarding nutrient intake, PUFA, SFA, TFA, cholesterol, vitamin D, and vitamin E were correlated with fatty acid levels in adipose tissue (PFDR < 0.05). To reveal local genetic regulation of fatty acids in adipose tissue, we performed GWAS and identified 10 fatty acid-associated genetic loci across 13 fatty acids (i.e. palmitic acid/palmitoleic acid – at the SCD locus, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid/arachidonic acid at the FADS1 locus, P < 5 × 10-8). The integration of adipose gene expression data revealed the mediation effects of SCD and FADS1 expressions in the associations between FADS1 SNP and the conversion of unsaturated fatty acids. We took forward two GWAS lead SNPs (SCD SNP and FADS1 SNP) to test the SNP-by-diet interaction on adipose fatty acids. Milk intake showed SNP-by-diet interaction with FADS1 SNP for linoleic acid and docosapentaenoic acid levels (P < 0.001). The interactions between roasted potatoes/chips and FADS1

SNP were significant for dihomo-γ-linolenic acid/linoleic acid (P < 0.001).

Adipose fatty acid levels were regulated by both genetic variants and dietary intake. We found suggestive evidence for the interaction of genetic variant and diet.

Mechanistic studies and short-term randomised trials suggest that higher intakes of dietary flavonoids may protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)(1–3). However, little research has been conducted at a population level, and to date no long term prospective study has assessed the associations between flavonoid intakes and NAFLD risk(4). We aim to perform the first population-based study with long-term follow-up on flavonoid consumption and NAFLD incidence.

In a prospective study, we assessed the associations between flavonoid intakes based on ≥2 24hour dietary assessments and NAFLD risk among 121,563 adults aged 40 to 69 years by multivariable regression analyses. Flavonoid intakes were assessed on three levels: a novel flavodiet score (FDS), flavonoid rich foods, and flavonoid subclasses. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess NAFLD risk, and linear trend tests were used to test for significance. Additional sensitivity analysis was conducted using both a FDS excluding red wine, and non flavonoid containing equivalent foods as negative controls.

Over 10 years of follow-up, 1090 cases of NAFLD were observed. When compared to the lowest Quartile, the highest quartile (Q4) of the Flavodiet Score (FDS) was associated with a 20% lower risk of NAFLD (HR (95%CI): 0.80 (0.66−0.96), P trend=0.02). Additionally, higher apple intake was associated with a 22% lower risk of NAFLD (HR (95%CI): 0.78 (0.66 - 0.92), P trend=<0.01), while higher tea consumption was associated with a 13% lower risk of NAFLD (HR (95%CI): 0.87 (0.73 -1.03), P trend=0.046). Of the flavonoid subclasses, we observed that higher intakes of proanthocyanidins, theaflavins and thearubigins, flavonols and flavan-3-ols were also associated with lower risk.

In a large UK cohort, we demonstrate for the first time that flavonoid-rich diets, containing approximately 6-servings of flavonoid rich food per day, are associated with lower risk of NAFLD. As such, the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods may reduce the risk of NAFLD and its sequalae among middle-aged adults.

Enrollment into a prospective cohort study of mother–preterm infant dyads during the COVID-19 pandemic progressed slower than anticipated. Enrollment occurred during the first week after preterm birth, while infants were still hospitalized. We hypothesized that slower enrollment was attributable to mothers testing positive for COVID-19 as hospital policies restricted them from entering the neonatal intensive care unit, thus reducing interactions with research staff. However, only 4.5% of 245 screened mothers tested COVID-19 positive. Only 24.9% of those screened, far fewer than anticipated, were eligible for enrollment. Assumptions about pandemic-related enrollment barriers were not substantiated in this pediatric cohort.

Leucites are tetrahedrally coordinated silicate framework structures with some of the silicon framework cations that are partially replaced by divalent or trivalent cations. These structures have general formulae A2BSi5O12 and ACSi2O6, where A is a monovalent alkali metal cation, B is a divalent cation, and C is a trivalent cation. There are also leucite analogs with analogous tetrahedrally coordinated germanate framework structures. These have general formulae A2BGe5O12 and ACGe2O6. In this paper, the Rietveld refinements of three synthetic Ge-leucite analogs with stoichiometries of AAlGe2O6 (A = K, Rb, Cs) are discussed. KAlGe2O6 is I41/a tetragonal and is isostructural with KAlSi2O6. RbAlGe2O6 and CsAlGe2O6 are $I\bar{4}3d$ cubic and are isostructural with KBSi2O6.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately affected by diet-related disease such as type 2 diabetes, the rate of which is 20 fold higher than that of non-Indigenous young Australians(1). Before colonisation, Gomeroi and other First Nations people harvested, threshed and ground native grass seeds with water into a paste before cooking(2). The introduction of white refined flour has meant that time-consuming grass seed processing has mainly ceased, and native grains are no longer eaten habitually. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 10% incorporation of two native grain flours on postprandial blood glucose response and Glycemic Index (GI). Five male and five female subjects, with a mean age of 30 ± 0.9 and BMI of 21.6 ± 0.4 and normoglycemic, participated in GI testing of three flour + water pancake compositions matched for available carbohydrate: 100% wheat (Wheat) and 90% wheat:10% native grains (Native_a and Native_b). Effect on satiety was determined using subjective ratings of hunger/fullness over the time course of the GI testing. In comparison to the plain flour pancake, replacing 10% plain wheat flour with Native_b flour significantly reduced the GI by 28.8% from 73 ± 5 to 48 ± 5, having a profound effect on postprandial blood glucose levels in 9 of 10 subjects (p<0.05, paired t-test). The GI of 10% Native_a flour pancake was not different from 100% wheat flour pancake (75 ± 5). Satiety tended to be greater when native grains were incorporated but this study was not powered to detect effect on satiety. In conclusion, replacing only 10% of plain wheat flour with Native_b flour was sufficient to significantly reduce the blood glycemic response to the pancake. This replacement could be easily implemented for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. For Aboriginal people with access to grain Country, the nutritional health benefits associated with eating native grains, as well as the cultural benefits of caring for Country, will have a direct transformational impact on local communities. Our vision is to revitalise Gomeroi grains and to guide a sustainable Indigenous-led industry to heal Country and people through co-designed research.

The reaction of smectite to illite in shale from the COST 1 well in the south Texas Gulf Coast and from altered ash-fall tuffs from the Morrison Formation in New Mexico was investigated using X-ray powder diffraction in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy. In the COST 1 well, the bulk of the detrital clay was originally a K+-deficient mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S). As the I/S adsorbed K+ released by the dissolution of K-feldspar during burial, the proportion of expandable layers decreased with depth from ~65% near the top of the well to ~25% at 4500 m depth. In contrast, the proportion of low-charged structural planes [<0.8 eq per (Al,Si)4O10 unit] in the I/S decreased gradually from ~40% near the top of the well to ~15% near the bottom. Authigenic smectite with 100% expandable layers from the Morrison Formation tuffs is an alteration product of vitric ash. Where these tuffs have been buried to ~ 1400 m the smectite has reacted to form I/S with ~ 15% expandable layers.

Direct lattice images of I/S crystallites from both locations reveal a correspondence between edge dislocations and the interface between illite layers and smectite layers. Al, Si, Fe, Ca, Mg, and Na were apparently mobile along these dislocations as the reaction of smectite to illite proceeded. Al was probably retained within the crystallite when illite layers replaced the smectite layers; however, some of the remaining cations were expelled. Lateral replacement of smectite layers by illite appears to have been the principal growth mechanism.

We present the most sensitive and detailed view of the neutral hydrogen (${\rm H\small I}$) emission associated with the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), through the combination of data from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and Parkes (Murriyang), as part of the Galactic Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (GASKAP) pilot survey. These GASKAP-HI pilot observations, for the first time, reveal ${\rm H\small I}$ in the SMC on similar physical scales as other important tracers of the interstellar medium, such as molecular gas and dust. The resultant image cube possesses an rms noise level of 1.1 K ($1.6\,\mathrm{mJy\ beam}^{-1}$) $\mathrm{per}\ 0.98\,\mathrm{km\ s}^{-1}$ spectral channel with an angular resolution of $30^{\prime\prime}$ (${\sim}10\,\mathrm{pc}$). We discuss the calibration scheme and the custom imaging pipeline that utilises a joint deconvolution approach, efficiently distributed across a computing cluster, to accurately recover the emission extending across the entire ${\sim}25\,\mathrm{deg}^2$ field-of-view. We provide an overview of the data products and characterise several aspects including the noise properties as a function of angular resolution and the represented spatial scales by deriving the global transfer function over the full spectral range. A preliminary spatial power spectrum analysis on individual spectral channels reveals that the power law nature of the density distribution extends down to scales of 10 pc. We highlight the scientific potential of these data by comparing the properties of an outflowing high-velocity cloud with previous ASKAP+Parkes ${\rm H\small I}$ test observations.

Monoclonal antibody therapeutics to treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Many barriers exist when deploying a novel therapeutic during an ongoing pandemic, and it is critical to assess the needs of incorporating monoclonal antibody infusions into pandemic response activities. We examined the monoclonal antibody infusion site process during the COVID-19 pandemic and conducted a descriptive analysis using data from 3 sites at medical centers in the United States supported by the National Disaster Medical System. Monoclonal antibody implementation success factors included engagement with local medical providers, therapy batch preparation, placing the infusion center in proximity to emergency services, and creating procedures resilient to EUA changes. Infusion process challenges included confirming patient severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity, strained staff, scheduling, and pharmacy coordination. Infusion sites are effective when integrated into pre-existing pandemic response ecosystems and can be implemented with limited staff and physical resources.

Background: Discussions around driving cessation between clinicians and dementia patients are challenging. Patients view giving up their license as losing their independence. We sought to develop a tool that enables standardized and consistent driving messaging across clinicians working in a specialist memory clinic, across the span of cognitive disorders Methods: We developed a driving recommendations generator that allows clinicians to produce information handouts personalized to individual patient capabilities and needs. Clinicians select from a list of established recommendations that were developed with neurologist and geriatrician input, and consistent with provincial requirements. Recommendations cover patients’ current driving ability, road safety examinations, alternate transportation, and license revocation. Early driving retirement is emphasized and encouraged, to proactively support patients’ choices, safety and independence. Recommendation and handouts are printed for the patients. Results: Patients reported that the recommendations were easy to read and understand, and helped them to implement physician suggestions. All surveyed clients recommended continuing to provide such recommendations to future patients and families. Clinicians agreed that the tool helped them to save time, and simplified the process of finding accurate information to provide patients. Conclusions: Clinicians have found the system timesaving and useful for simplifying the process of providing helpful, informative resources for patients.

Leucites are tetrahedrally coordinated silicate framework structures with some of the silicon framework cations partially replaced by divalent or trivalent cations. These structures have general formulae A2BSi5O12 and ACSi2O6; where A is a monovalent alkali metal cation, B is a divalent cation, and C is a trivalent cation. In this paper, we report the Rietveld refinements of three more synthetic leucite analogues with stoichiometries of Cs2NiSi5O12, RbGaSi2O6, and CsGaSi2O6. Cs2NiSi5O12 is Ia$\bar{3}$d cubic and is isostructural with Cs2CuSi5O12. RbGaSi2O6 is I41/a tetragonal and is isostructural with KGaSi2O6. CsGaSi2O6 is $I\bar{4}3d$ cubic and is isostructural with RbBSi2O6.