catena-Poly[[(nitrito-κ2 O,O′)silver(I)]-μ-1,2-bis­[1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl­idene]hydrazine-κ2 N:N′]

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Ag(NO2)(C14H14N4)]n, contains half of the repeating formula unit (Z′ = 1/2). The AgI ion lies on a twofold rotation axis. The primary structure consists of a one-dimensional coordination polymer formed by the AgI ions and the bipyridyl azine ligand in which there is an inversion center at the mid-point of the N—N bond. The nitrite anion inter­acts with the AgI ion through a chelating μ2 inter­action involving both O atoms. In the crystal, the coordination chains are parallel and inter­act through Ag⋯π [3.220 (2) Å] and π–π [3.489 (3) Å] inter­actions

Spring Grass Availability and Silage Supplementation Impact on Dry Matter Intake and Enteric Methane Emissions in Grazing Dairy Cattle

Enteric methane (CH4) emissions were measured in forty spring calving cows offered one of two (n=20) contrasting diets (High Grass; HG, Low Grass; LG) over 10 weeks in early lactation (8th February – 18th April 2021). All cows were blocked for breed and parity and balanced on milk production, economic breeding index (EBI), bodyweight and body condition score and randomly allocated to treatments. The HG grazing treatment cows were offered their full daily nutrient requirement from grazed grass and concentrate with no silage supplementation. The LG grazing treatment cows were offered a restricted (~60%) amount of their daily nutrient requirement from grazed grass with the deficit being supplied by 3 kg DM/cow of grass silage fed daily. Concentrate supplementation was the same for both treatments at 2.7 kg DM/cow/day. All forage samples were analysed using near – infrared spectrometry to evaluate quality parameters. Milk yield was recorded daily with milk composition determined weekly. Daily CH4 emissions were monitored using Greenfeed technology. Individual animal dry matter intake (DMI) was determined at five time points using the n-alkane technique. Over the 10 week experiment collected data was averaged fortnightly in 5 periods (period 1-5) prior to analysis. Milk yield and milk solids (fat plus protein) production were similar for both treatments. The HG treatment tended to have greater total DMI (TDMI) with a significant diet by period interaction evident. Daily CH4 emissions (g/d) were not effected by treatment, however there was a treatment by period interaction. This resulted in a significant treatment effect for CH4 yield (g/kg TDMI). This was complemented with a significant treatment by period interaction with the greatest difference in CH4 yield evident in period 4. Increasing the proportion of highly digestible grazed grass in the diet in early lactation can aid in reducing enteric CH4 emissions in pasture based dairy systems

The scale of “fuel tourism” across the Irish border. ESRI Research Bulletin, 2018/01

Mainly due to differing tax rates, the retail prices of motor fuels in the Republic of Ireland are generally lower than in Northern Ireland. This leads to “fuel tourism”, whereby many Northern Ireland consumers buy fuel in the south. It would be useful to know how much fuel is sold to these cross-border consumers. Fuel sales make an important contribution to tax revenues, and a shift in relative tax rates across the border could lead to significant changes in tax receipts arising from cross-border sales. Also, European climate policy makes each country responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions from fuels sold to retail customers within its borders, regardless of where the fuel is ultimately used or whether the user resides abroad. The level of cross-border fuel sales thus has implications for the policies used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. This research estimates the quantity of petrol and diesel fuel sold by forecourt retailers (i.e. petrol stations) in the Republic of Ireland to consumers in Northern Ireland during the 2013-2015 period. Statistical methods are applied to monthly data on fuels sales by individual retailers in the border counties. The key assumption is that petrol stations nearer to the border should enjoy higher cross-border sales than otherwise similar petrol stations that are further away. Analysing the geographical pattern of sales allows us to infer how much fuel is purchased by customers from Northern Ireland

A single case study of a family-centred intervention with a young girl with cerebral palsy who is a multimodal communicator

Background - This paper describes the impact of a family-centred intervention that used video to enhance communication in a young girl with cerebral palsy. This single case study describes how the video-based intervention worked in the context of multimodal communication, which included high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device use. This paper includes the family's perspective of the video intervention and they describe the impact of it on their family. Methods - This single case study was based on the premise that the video interaction guidance intervention would increase attentiveness between participants during communication. It tests a hypothesis that eye gaze is a fundamental prerequisite for all communicative initiatives, regardless of modality in the child. Multimodality is described as the range of communicative behaviours used by the child and these are coded as AAC communication, vocalizations (intelligible and unintelligible), sign communication, nodding and pointing. Change was analysed over time with multiple testing both pre and post intervention. Data were analysed within INTERACT, a computer software to analyse behaviourally observed data. Behaviours were analysed for frequency and duration, contingency and co-occurrence. Results - Results indicated increased duration of mother's and girl's eye gaze, increased frequency and duration in AAC communication by the girl and significant change in frequency [χ2 (5, n = 1) = 13.25, P < 0.05] and duration [χ2 (5, n = 1) = 12.57, P < 0.05] of the girl's multimodal communicative behaviours. Contingency and co-occurrence analysis indicated that mother's eye gaze followed by AAC communication was the most prominent change between the pre- and post-intervention assessments. Conclusions - There was a trend for increased eye gaze in both mum and girl and AAC communication in the girl following the video intervention. The family's perspective concurs with the results

Identification of pancreatic cancer invasion-related proteins by proteomic analysis

Background – Markers of pancreatic cancer invasion were investigated in two clonal populations of the cell line, MiaPaCa-2, Clone #3 (high invasion) and Clone #8 (low invasion) using proteomic profiling of an in vitro model of pancreatic cancer. Materials and methods – Using 2D-DIGE followed by MALDI-TOF MS, two clonal sub-populations of the pancreatic cancer cell line, MiaPaCa-2 with high and low invasive capacities were incubated on matrigel 24 hours prior to analysis to stimulate cell-ECM contact and mimic in vivo interaction with the basement membrane. Results - Sixty proteins were identified as being differentially expressed (>1.2 fold change and p ≤ 0.05) between Clone #3 and Clone #8. Proteins found to have higher abundance levels in the highly invasive Clone #3 compared to the low invasive Clone #8 include members of the chaperone activity proteins and cytoskeleton constituents whereas metabolism-associated and catalytic proteins had lower abundance levels. Differential protein expression levels of ALDH1A1, VIM, STIP1 and KRT18 and GAPDH were confirmed by immunoblot. Using RNAi technology, STIP1 knockdown significantly reduced invasion and proliferation of the highly invasive Clone #3. Knockdown of another target, VIM by siRNA in Clone #3 cells also resulted in decreased invasion abilities of Clone #3. Elevated expression of STIP1 was observed in pancreatic tumour tissue compared to normal pancreas, whereas ALDH1A1 stained at lower levels in pancreatic tumours, as detected by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion - Identification of targets which play a role in the highly invasive phenotype of pancreatic cancer may help to understand the biological behaviour, the rapid progression of this cancer and may be of importance in the development of new therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer

Interventions for preventing falls in people with multiple sclerosis.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce the rate of falls in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Specific objectives include comparing the effectiveness of single, multiple and multifactorial interventions designed to reduce the rate of falls in people with MS

Assessing the level of cross-border fuel tourism

Consistently cheaper fuel prices in one jurisdiction compared to a neighbouring jurisdiction should, holding other factors constant, lead to greater demand for fuel in the country with the lower price, due in part to legal fuel tourism. Fuel tourism, cross-border demand for fuel, represents an important source of tax revenues to the Exchequer but also contributes significantly to a country’s national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The econometric analysis in this paper aims to estimate the level and determinants of fuel demand from Northern Irish consumers in the Republic of Ireland taking account of market size, proximity to major roads, level of local competition and station characteristics. The analysis is based on an unbalanced panel dataset of retail sales among 543 border stations from April 2013 to March 2015. The results show that the set of stations close to the border have higher than expected average diesel and petrol sales by 54.4% and 14.6% respectively. Greater levels of fuel tourism for diesel may partly be attributable to heavy goods and other vehicles which avail of cheaper prices near the border before making long distance journeys on to the Continent. The combined Excise Duty, Carbon Tax and VAT contribution to the Irish Exchequer associated with fuel tourism is estimated at €202 million for diesel and €28 million for petrol based on 2015 levels. CO2 emissions from these cross-border sales are about 1.17 million tonnes per annum, or 2% of Ireland’s national GHG emissions

Midwifery one-to-one support in labour: More than a ratio

Objective: To explore midwifery one-to-one support in labour in a real world context of midwife-led birth environments. Design: Ethnographic study. Data was collected from 30 observations inside and outside the birth environments in three different birth settings. Semi-structured interviews were completed following the births with 29 low-risk women and 30 midwives with at least one year labour support experience to gain their perspectives. Twenty-seven maternity records were also analysed. Setting: An alongside midwife-led unit, freestanding midwife-led unit and women's homes in England. Findings: Six components of care were identified that required balance inside midwife-led birth environments: (1) presence, (2) midwife-woman relationships, (3) coping strategies, (4) labour progress, (5) birthing partners and (6) midwifery support. Midwives used their knowledge, experience and intuitive skills to synchronise their care for the six components to work in balance. Balancing of the six components have been translated into continuums representing the labour care and requirements. Conclusion and implications for practice: Midwifery one-to-one support in labour is more than a ratio when translated into clinical practice. When the balance of the six components were tuned into the needs of women, women were satisfied with their labour and birth experience, even when it did not go to plan. A one midwife to one woman ratio should be available for all women in labour

Subjective and Objective Assessment of Taste and Smell Sensation in Advanced Cancer

Context: Taste and smell abnormalities (TSA) occur throughout the cancer trajectory regardless of cancer primary site and contribute to cancer-associated malnutrition. TSA etiology is poorly understood. Tumor-related inflammation is a possible cause. Objective: This study examined the prevalence, characteristics, and severity of TSA in advanced cancer and explored the relationship between TSA and nutritional status. No previous study combined subjective and objective measures for both taste and smell assessment in this population. Method: Consecutive advanced cancer hospice patients were recruited. A modified version of the “Taste and Smell Survey” assessed subjective TSA. Validated taste strips and “Sniffin’ Sticks” were the objective measures. The abridged patient-generated subjective global assessment evaluated nutritional status. Results: A 93% prevalence of TSA in 30 patients with advanced cancer was identified. When subjective and objective evaluations were combined, 28 had taste abnormalities, 24 smell abnormalities, and 24 both. Taste changes included “persistent bad taste” (n ¼ 18) and changes in how basic tastes were perceived. Half reported smell was not “as strong” as prediagnosis, while more than half (n ¼ 16) had an objective smell abnormality. Most (97%) were at risk of malnutrition. Fatigue, dry mouth, early satiety, and anorexia were common nutrition-impact symptoms. No statistically significant relationship was found between TSA and malnutrition scores. Conclusions: TSA were highly prevalent. Subjective taste and smell changes did not always accord with objective TSA, suggesting both assessments are valuable. TSA characteristics varied, and particular foods tasted and smelled different and were not enjoyed as before. TSA are common, high-impact problems in advanced cancer

Single dose oral dexamethasone versus multi-dose prednisolone in the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma in children who attend the emergency department: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a major cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. In acute exacerbations of asthma, corticosteroids reduce relapses, subsequent hospital admission and the need for ß2-agonist therapy. Prednisolone is relatively short-acting with a half-life of 12 to 36 hours, thereby requiring daily dosing. Prolonged treatment course, vomiting and a bitter taste may reduce patient compliance with prednisolone. Dexamethasone is a long-acting corticosteroid with a half-life of 36 to 72 hours. It is used frequently in children with croup and bacterial meningitis, and is well absorbed orally. The purpose of this trial is to examine whether a single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg) is clinically non-inferior to prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day for three days) in the treatment of exacerbations of asthma in children who attend the Emergency Department. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a randomized, non-inferiority, open-label clinical trial. After informed consent with or without assent, patients will be randomized to either oral dexamethasone 0.3 mg/kg stat or prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day for three days. The primary outcome measure is the comparison between the Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) across both groups on Day 4. The PRAM score, a validated, responsive and reliable tool to determine asthma severity in children aged 2 to 16 years, will be performed by a clinician blinded to treatment allocation. Secondary outcomes include relapse, hospital admission and requirement for further steroid therapy. Data will be analyzed on an intention-to-treat and a per protocol basis. With a sample size of 232 subjects (105 in each group with an estimated 10% loss to follow-up), we will be able to reject the null hypothesis - that the population means of the experimental and control groups are equal with a probability (power) of 0.9. The Type I error probability associated with this test (of the null hypothesis) is 0.05. DISCUSSION: This clinical trial may provide evidence that a shorter steroid course using dexamethasone can be used in the treatment of acute pediatric asthma, thus eliminating the issue of compliance to treatment. REGISTRATION: ISRCTN26944158 and EudraCT Number 2010-022001-18