Encapsulation of Fragrances in Micro- and Nano-Capsules, Polymeric Micelles, and Polymersomes.

Fragrances are ubiquitously and extensively used in everyday life and several industrial applications, including perfumes, textiles, laundry formulations, hygiene household products, and food products. However, the intrinsic volatility of these small organic molecules leaves them particularly susceptible to fast depletion from a product or from the surface they have been applied to. Encapsulation is a very effective method to limit the loss of fragrance during their use and to sustain their release. This review gives an overview of the different materials and techniques used for the encapsulation of fragrances, scents, and aromas, as well as the methods used to characterize the resulting encapsulation systems, with a particular focus on cyclodextrins, polymer microcapsules, inorganic microcapsules, block copolymer micelles, and polymersomes for fragrance encapsulation, sustained release, and controlled release.

Synthesis and SAR of novel GPR39 agonists and positive allosteric modulators.

We report a significant decrease in transcription of the G protein-coupled receptor GPR39 in striatal neurons of Parkinson's disease patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting that a positive modulator of GPR39 may beneficially impact neuroprotection. To test this notion, we developed various structurally diverse tool molecules. While we elaborated on previously reported starting points, we also performed an in silico screen which led to completely novel pharmacophores. In vitro studies indicated that GPR39 agonism does not have a profound effect on neuroprotection.

High SARS-CoV-2 Attack Rate Following Exposure at a Choir Practice - Skagit County, Washington, March 2020.

On March 17, 2020, a member of a Skagit County, Washington, choir informed Skagit County Public Health (SCPH) that several members of the 122-member choir had become ill. Three persons, two from Skagit County and one from another area, had test results positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Another 25 persons had compatible symptoms. SCPH obtained the choir's member list and began an investigation on March 18. Among 61 persons who attended a March 10 choir practice at which one person was known to be symptomatic, 53 cases were identified, including 33 confirmed and 20 probable cases (secondary attack rates of 53.3% among confirmed cases and 86.7% among all cases). Three of the 53 persons who became ill were hospitalized (5.7%), and two died (3.7%). The 2.5-hour singing practice provided several opportunities for droplet and fomite transmission, including members sitting close to one another, sharing snacks, and stacking chairs at the end of the practice. The act of singing, itself, might have contributed to transmission through emission of aerosols, which is affected by loudness of vocalization (1). Certain persons, known as superemitters, who release more aerosol particles during speech than do their peers, might have contributed to this and previously reported COVID-19 superspreading events (2-5). These data demonstrate the high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 and the possibility of superemitters contributing to broad transmission in certain unique activities and circumstances. It is recommended that persons avoid face-to-face contact with others, not gather in groups, avoid crowded places, maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet to reduce transmission, and wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Psychologically informed practice (PIP) for staff working with offenders with personality disorder: A pragmatic exploratory trial in approved premises.

BACKGROUND: Rates of reoffending and recall are high among released male prisoners with personality disorder. There is a need for innovative intervention to reduce offending and increase staff confidence in working with such men. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel intervention consisting of training and consultation termed 'psychologically informed practice', within community-based 'approved premises' for offenders. METHOD: A pragmatic exploratory trial was used to compare two premises in a South London borough licenced under criminal justice legislation to provide supervised accommodation for selected released prisoners. One used the PIP intervention for 12 months while the other (comparison group) functioned in a similar way but without this intervention. Outcome measures included staff attitudes and offender behaviours. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed only for the intervention group. Compared with baseline measures, significantly higher levels of knowledge and understanding of personality disorder as well as a greater sense of personal accomplishment were observed in staff who have been trained and supported in psychologically informed practice. Significantly lower rates of warnings and recalls to prison were observed only for the intervention group at 6 months following initial staff training. CONCLUSION: Psychologically informed practice appears to be sufficiently advantageous for staff and offenders, and the trial feasible, which is a full-scale multi-centre trial, seems warranted. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Development of a Methodology for Contextual User Research in Healthcare Design Projects.

The impact of human factors in the usage of medical devices and delivery of healthcare is increasingly being recognized as a significant contributor to patient experience and safety. This paper presents a methodology for undertaking contextual user research during healthcare design projects (in home, primary or acute care settings) by which all relevant human factors of a procedure can be recorded, documented and analyzed. An innovative method of graphically representing the results of this analysis is proposed which visualizes the interactions and interdependencies between all stakeholders and artefacts involved in a procedure and the environment in which it takes place. The proposed methodology is intended to assist researchers, designers, architects and healthcare professionals during the research phase of a healthcare design project to reveal user needs, identify potential risks, provide documentation for regulatory adherence and inform the development of a comprehensive and inclusive design brief. The paper presents the context and development of this systematic process, which draws on empirical and theoretical methodologies, a studio based pedagogy, and the experience of delivering real-world educational design projects in partnership with healthcare clinicians and medical device companies. It also highlights the capacity for this form of learning to align with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. The application of the methodology has the ability to extract key environmental, user and human factors insights. Most importantly, these insights can inform the design process, positively impact on patient experience and safety through improvements in device development and care delivery, and enable the creation of more inclusive and accessible healthcare solutions.