Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and structural correlates of HIV and STI testing among a community-based cohort of women sex workers in Vancouver Canada

Background In light of the stark inequities in HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) experienced by women sex workers, empirical evidence is needed to inform accessible and sex worker-friendly models of voluntary, confidential and non-coercive HIV and STI testing. We evaluated the prevalence and structural correlates of HIV/STI testing in the last 6 months in a large, community-based cohort of women sex workers in Vancouver, Canada. Methods Data were drawn from an open community-based open cohort of women sex workers (January 2010-August 2021) working across diverse street, indoor, and online environments in Vancouver, Canada. Using questionnaire data collected by experiential (sex workers) and community-based staff, we measured prevalence and used bivariate and multivariable logistic regression to model correlates of recent HIV/STI testing at enrollment. Results Of 897 participants, 37.2% (n = 334) identified as Indigenous, 31.4% as Women of Color/Black (n = 282), and 31.3% (n = 281) as White. At enrollment, 45.5% (n = 408) reported HIV testing, 44.9% (n = 403) reported STI testing, 32.6% (n = 292) reported receiving both HIV and STI testing, and 57.9% (n = 519) had received an HIV and/or STI test in the last 6 months. In adjusted multivariable analysis, women accessing sex worker-led/specific services had higher odds of recent HIV/STI testing, (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.91, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.33–2.75), whereas Women of Color and Black women (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.28–0.98) faced significantly lower odds of recent HIV/STI testing. Conclusions Scaling-up community-based, sex worker-led and tailored services is recommended to enhance voluntary, confidential, and safe access to integrated HIV/STI testing, particularly for Women of Color and Black Women. Culturally safe, multilingual HIV/STI testing services and broader efforts to address systemic racism within and beyond the health system are needed to reduce inequities and promote safe engagement in services for racialized sex workers.
Complexes of hydrogen peroxide molecules with DNA nucleic bases

Abstract The analysis of complexes formation of hydrogen peroxide molecule with DNA nucleic bases is carried out using methods of quantum chemistry. Optimized geometries of complexes are determined and the interaction energies that lead to complex formation are calculated. Comparison with the same calculations for water molecule is made. It is shown that complexes with hydrogen peroxide molecule are energetically more stable than the same complexes with water molecule. Such energetic advantage is achieved particularly due to geometrical properties of hydrogen peroxide molecule, especially presence of dihedral angle. Position of hydrogen peroxide molecule in close vicinity to DNA could lead to blocking of its recognition by proteins or direct damage via hydroxyl radical formation. These results can have significant impact in understanding of mechanisms of cancer therapy. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
A Snowfall Impact Scale Derived from Northeast Storm Snowfall Distributions

Abstract A Northeast snowfall impact scale (NESIS) is presented to convey a measure of the impact of heavy snowfall in the Northeast urban corridor, a region that extends from southern Virginia to New England. The scale is derived from a synoptic climatology of 30 major snowstorms in the Northeast urban corridor and applied to the snowfall distribution of 70 snowstorms east of the Rocky Mountains. NESIS is similar in concept to other meteorological scales that are designed to simplify complex phenomena into an easily understood range of values. The Fujita scale for tornadoes and the Saffir–Simpson scale for hurricanes measure the potential for destruction to property and loss of life by wind-related damage (and storm surge for Saffir–Simpson) through use of a categorical ranking (0 or 1–5).
Detailed overview of incidence and management of cytokine release syndrome observed with teclistamab in the MajesTEC‐1 study of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Teclistamab, a B‐cell maturation antigen × CD3 bispecific antibody, demonstrated an overall response rate of 63.0% in 165 heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in the phase 1/2 MajesTEC‐1 study. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a known manifestation of T‐cell redirection, was observed in 119 of 165 patients (72.1%).
Role of Tumor-informed Personalized Circulating Tumor DNA Assay in Informing Recurrence in Patients With Peritoneal Metastases From Colorectal and High-grade Appendix Cancer Undergoing Curative-intent Surgery

Objective: To investigate the role of a personalized, tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay in informing recurrence in patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) from colorectal (CRC) and high-grade appendix (HGA) cancer after curative cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). Background: Over 50% of patients with CRC/HGA-PM recur after optimal CRS-HIPEC. The limited sensitivity of axial imaging and diagnostic biomarkers is a significant cause of delay in the detection of recurrence and initiation of further therapies. Plasma ctDNA has a promising role in monitoring response to treatment and/or recurrence after primary cancer resection. Methods: Patients with CRC/HGA-PM who underwent curative CRS-HIPEC and serial postresection ctDNA assessments were included. Patients with rising postoperative ctDNA levels were compared with those with stable, undetectable ctDNA levels. Primary outcomes were the percentage of patients with recurrence and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes were overall survival, ctDNA sensitivity, lead time, and performance of ctDNA compared with carcinoembryonic antigen. Results: One hundred thirty serial postresection ctDNA assessments [median 4, interquartile range (IQR), 3 to 5] were performed in 33 patients (n = 13 CRC, n = 20 HGA) who underwent completeness of cytoreduction-0/1 CRS with a median follow-up of 13 months. Of the 19 patients with rising ctDNA levels, 90% recurred versus 21% in the stable ctDNA group (n = 14, < 0.001). Median DFS in the rising ctDNA cohort was 11 months (IQR, 6 to 12) and not reached in the stable (P = 0.01). A rising ctDNA level was the most significant factor associated with DFS (hazard ratio: 3.67, 95% CI: 1.06–12.66, P = 0.03). The sensitivity and specificity of rising ctDNA levels in predicting recurrence were 85% and 84.6%, respectively. The median ctDNA lead time was 3 months (IQR, 1 to 4). Carcinoembryonic antigen was less sensitive (50%) than ctDNA. Conclusions: This study supports the clinical validity of serial ctDNA assessment as a strong prognostic biomarker in informing recurrence in patients with CRC/HGA-PM undergoing curative resection. It also holds promises for informing future clinical trial designs and further research.
Fat-Augmented Latissimus Dorsi Flap for Secondary Breast Reconstruction in Small to Medium-Sized Irradiated Breasts

Background: Secondary breast reconstruction (BR) is recognized as a challenging procedure, particularly when radiotherapy (RT) has previously been performed. The aim of this study was to compare operative data and aesthetic outcomes between secondary irradiated and immediate BR using the fat-augmented latissimus dorsi (FALD) flap. Methods: The authors conducted a prospective clinical study between September of 2020 and September of 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: group A included secondary BR using the FALD flap in previously irradiated breasts, and group B included immediate BR with the FALD flap. Demographics and surgical data were compared, and an aesthetic analysis was performed. Chi-square and t tests were performed for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results: Twenty cases of FALD flap-based BR for each group were included. The two groups were found to be homogeneous for the demographic variables. The difference in mean operative time (263.1 minutes versus 265.1 minutes; P = 0.467) and complications (P = 0.633) between the two groups were not significant. There was statistically significant difference in term of immediate fat grafting volume in favor of group A (218.2 cc versus 133.0 cc; P < 0.0001). Regarding aesthetic outcomes, the mean global score evaluation showed no statistically significant differences between groups (17.86 versus 18.21; P = 0.209). Conclusions: The authors’ study states that the FALD flap can be considered a reliable procedure for secondary reconstruction in previously irradiated breasts, although it is not indicated for patients with larger breasts. This surgical technique allowed us to achieve a totally autologous BR with good aesthetic results and low complication rates, even in secondary irradiated cases. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.
Inhibitory Deficits of Insomnia Disorder: A Meta-Analysis on Event Related Potentials in Auditory Oddball Task

ABSTRACT Background Despite numerous studies on auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in insomnia disorder (ID), the results are inconsistent across different ERP components (e.g. N1, P2, P3, and N350), types of auditory stimuli (e.g. standard and deviant), and stages of sleep (e.g. wakefulness, NREM sleep, and REM sleep). In light of this variability, we conducted a systematic meta-analysis of previous auditory ERP studies in ID to provide a quantitative review of the existing literature. Methods Relevant literatures were searched on the Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library. A total of 12 studies comprising 497 participants were finally included in this meta-analysis. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO under the registration number CRD42022308348. Results We found that patients with ID have significantly decreased N1 (Hedges’ g = 0.34, 95%CI [0.04, 0.65]) and P3 (Hedges’g = −1.21, 95%CI [−2.37, −0.06]) amplitudes during wakefulness. In addition, decreases in P2 (Hedges’g = −0.57, 95%CI [−0.96, −0.17]) amplitude during wakefulness and N350 (Hedges’ g = 0.73, 95%CI [0.36, 1.09]) amplitude during NREM. Conclusions This meta-analysis represents the first systematic investigation of ERP features across different stages of sleep in individuals with ID. Our results suggest that in patients with insomnia, the absence or deficiency of arousal inhibition during the nighttime sleep initiation or maintenance process may interfere with the normal process of sleep.
Interaction between Extratropical Stationary Waves and the Zonal Mean Circulation

Abstract A troposphere–stratosphere simple GCM that simulates the wintertime general circulation with considerable accuracy is presented. The model is driven by temperature relaxation, additional prescribed tropical heating, self-induced heating in midlatitudes, and boundary layer mixing. The idealizations in diabatic heating are used to study the basic impacts of orographic and midlatitude thermal forcing of stationary waves on the zonally averaged northern winter climatology in the troposphere. It is found that large-scale mountains in the winter hemispheric midlatitudes do generally lead to enhanced eddy feedback onto the Hadley circulation; that is, the tropical streamfunction maximum is reduced and the surface near equatorward flow is enhanced due to enhanced eddy heat flux from the subtropics into midlatitudes. In addition, the subtropical jet is reduced and shifted poleward due to enhanced eddy deceleration in the poleward branch of the Hadley cell. A prescribed longitude dependence of self-induced.
Dear Pandemic: A topic modeling analysis of COVID-19 information needs among readers of an online science communication campaign

Background The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an “infodemic”–an overwhelming excess of accurate, inaccurate, and uncertain information. The social media-based science communication campaign Dear Pandemic was established to address the COVID-19 infodemic, in part by soliciting submissions from readers to an online question box. Our study characterized the information needs of Dear Pandemic’s readers by identifying themes and longitudinal trends among question box submissions. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of questions submitted from August 24, 2020, to August 24, 2021. We used Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling to identify 25 topics among the submissions, then used thematic analysis to interpret the topics based on their top words and submissions. We used t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding to visualize the relationship between topics, and we used generalized additive models to describe trends in topic prevalence over time. Results We analyzed 3839 submissions, 90% from United States-based readers. We classified the 25 topics into 6 overarching themes: ‘Scientific and Medical Basis of COVID-19,’ ‘COVID-19 Vaccine,’ ‘COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies,’ ‘Society and Institutions,’ ‘Family and Personal Relationships,’ and ‘Navigating the COVID-19 Infodemic. ’ Trends in topics about viral variants, vaccination, COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and children aligned with the news cycle and reflected the anticipation of future events. Over time, vaccine-related submissions became increasingly related to those surrounding social interaction. Conclusions Question box submissions represented distinct themes that varied in prominence over time. Dear Pandemic’s readers sought information that would not only clarify novel scientific concepts, but would also be timely and practical to their personal lives. Our question box format and topic modeling approach offers science communicators a robust methodology for tracking, understanding, and responding to the information needs of online audiences.
RNA sequencing to support intronic variant interpretation: A case report of TRAPPC12‐related disorder

Regional Genetics Program, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Centre for Computational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Medical Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada The Fred A. Litwin Family Centre in Genetic Medicine, University Health Network, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Newborn Screening Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Emotions and team communication in the operating room: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Training in healthcare team communication has largely focused on strategies to improve information transfer with less focus on interpersonal dynamics and emotional aspects of communication. The Operating Room (OR) may be one of the most emotionally charged hospital environments, and is one requiring excellent team communications. We aimed to identify literature reporting on the emotional aspects of OR team communication. Our research questions were: what are the triggers in the environment that provoke an emotional response affecting communication, and what are the emotional responses to communication between OR team members; and how do these emotional aspects of communication affect the function of the OR team? We undertook a Scoping Review of literature across relevant databases following published guidelines, and narrative synthesis of the identified studies. From the 10 included studies we identified three themes: (1) Emotional experiences in the OR and their contributors; (2) Effects of emotional experiences on team communication; and (3) Solutions to manage the emotional experiences in the OR. Theme 1 sub-themes were: (1) Range of emotions experienced in the OR; (2) Hierarchical culture and (3) Leadership expectations as contributors to negative emotions. The OR is an emotionally charged environment. The hierarchical culture can inhibit staff from speaking up, and failure of leaders to meet team expectations, e.g., through appropriate and timely communication, may cause frustration and stress. The consequences of emotions include poor team dynamics, ineffective communication and potential negative impact on patient care. Few studies described strategies to manage emotions in the OR. The studies reviewed describe an environment where emotions can run high, affecting interpersonal communications, team function and patient care. The few identified studies relevant to our research questions demonstrate a need to better understand the emotional aspects of OR team communication and the effectiveness of interventions to improve these.
Factors Associated with Court Outcomes of Medical Malpractice Litigations Involving Breast Reductions: 1990 to 2020

Background: Up to 7.4% of physicians in the United States face the risk of undergoing medical malpractice litigation each year. Breast reduction operations are performed often, but specific factors of breast reduction malpractice litigation associated with the outcome and indemnity payments to plaintiffs are unknown. Methods: Using the Westlaw legal database, the authors analyzed plaintiff and defendant characteristics, alleged reasons for malpractice, case outcomes, and payments to plaintiffs among medical malpractice lawsuits involving breast reductions with final jury verdicts or settlements, using logistic regressions. Results: Ninety-six malpractice litigations with jury verdicts or settlements involving breast reduction operations between 1990 and 2020 met the authors’ inclusion/exclusion criteria. The average reported plaintiff age was 39 ± 15 years. A total of 28% ± 29.2%, 48% ± 50.0%, and 20% ± 20.8% cases occurred in the 1990 to 1999, 2000 to 2009, and 2010 to 2020 periods, respectively; 15% ± 15.6% of cases were held in New York. Most cases were in favor of defendants [n = 65 (67.7%)]. Among 14 cases (14.6%) with nipple malpositioning as a sustained injury, eight of them (57.1%) were ruled in favor of plaintiffs. Nipple malpositioning had increased odds of plaintiff verdict or settlement versus defendant verdict (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.74; P = 0.03). Median payments to plaintiffs were $221,348 (range, $4375 to $3,500,000) for plaintiff verdicts and $650,000 (range, $250,000 to $750,000) for settlements. Conclusions: Most breast reduction malpractice litigations were ruled in favor of defendants. Nipple positioning should be taken into high consideration by plastic surgeons performing breast reductions to avoid malpractice litigation and indemnity payments.
Efficacy assessment of Neoseiulus cucumeris at different release rates in control of Frankliniella occidentalis on rose plants under laboratory and microcosm conditions

Abstract The effectiveness of predators in suppressing prey populations is known to be influenced by the predator-prey release ratio. The efficacy of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) against Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergand) in the presence or absence of Tetranychus urticae Koch and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot on rose plants was evaluated in the present study. The decrease of F. occidentalis populations was compared at the six predator:prey ratios of 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, 1:50, and 1:100 in the laboratory, and at the three release rates of 20, 40, and 100 predators per m2 in microcosm conditions. The plants without predators were considered as controls. All treatments with the release of N. cucumeris resulted in a significant decrease in F. occidentalis larval population compared to the control. The most suppression (84.5%) of F. occidentalis larvae was observed in the release rate of 100 adults of N. cucumeris per m2 in 30 days after the release of the predator. Predator ratios of 1:2 and 1:5 of N. cucumeris: F. occidentalis resulted in a 94.6 and 93.4% decrease in F. occidentalis larvae after 24 hours, respectively. The presence of T. urticae (as a competitor herbivore) and P. persimilis had no effect on the efficiency of N. cucumeris in the suppression of F. occidentalis. The dense webs of T. urticae decreased the efficiency of N. cucumeris at predator:prey ratios of 1:5 and 1:10 more than1:2. This study showed that the release of 100 adults of N. cucumeris per m2 would be sufficient to control F. occidentalis larvae on rose plants. Moreover, we demonstrated that higher release rates of N.cucumeris are needed when T. urticae's dense webs are present.
Study of cosmic-ray H and He isotopes at 23 AU

We have measured the spectra of H and He isotopes during the 1987 solar minimum with the cosmic-ray detector system (CRS) on the Voyager 2 spacecraft. By carrying out the measurement near solar minimum and at large heliospheric distances, the effects of solar modulations were reduced. In particular, the adiabatic energy losses were smaller, and these results from 23 AU over the solar minimum period of cycle 21 represent observations at energies not accessible from previous measurements near 1 AU. The modulated spectra with the diffusion coefficient constant k(sub 0) = 3.15 x 10(exp 22) sq cm/s (which corresponds to a solar modulation parameter of 360 MV at 23 AU and 500 MV at 1 AU) agree well with both our data at 23 AU and the previous solar minimum measurements at 1 AU. The measured H-1 and H-2 spectra are both consistent with the calculated spectra, using standard Galactic and heliospheric propagation models without invoking an anomalous hydrogen component. With the fixed modulation parameter of 360 MV, the mean pathlengths, source spectra, and cross sections were varied to study the effects of different input parameters on the spectra and relative abundances. At this stage of our work, we have not found any strong evidence from the low-energy H-2 and He-3 data that H-1 and He-4 should have a different propagation history, or different types of source spectra from the heavier cosmic-ray nuclei.
Polymer and surfactant flows through a periodically constricted tube

Abstract The flow of three non-Newtonian fluids, comprising polymer and surfactant additives, in a periodically constricted tube (PCT) are experimentally compared. The radius of the tube walls is sinusoidal with respect to the streamwise direction. The three fluids are aqueous solutions of flexible polymers, rigid biopolymers and surfactants, which are typically used for drag-reduction in turbulent flows. Steady shear viscosity measurements demonstrate that rigid and flexible polymer solutions are shear-thinning, while surfactant solutions have a Newtonian and water-like shear viscosity. Capillary driven extensional rheology demonstrates that only flexible polymer solutions produce elastocapillary thinning. Particle shadow velocimetry is used to measure the velocity of each flow within the PCT at five Reynolds numbers spanning roughly 0.5 to 300. Relative to the Newtonian flows, rigid polymer solutions exhibit a blunt velocity profile. Flexible polymer solutions demonstrate a distinct chevron-shaped velocity contour and zones of opposing vorticity when the Deborah number exceeds 0.1. Using the vorticity transport equation, it is revealed that the opposing vorticity zones are coupled with a non-Newtonian torque. The PCT reveals that the surfactant solutions have similar non-Newtonian features as flexible polymer solutions – those being a chevron velocity pattern, opposing vorticity and a finite non-Newtonian torque. This observation is of practical importance since conventional shear and extensional rheometric measurements are not capable of demonstrating non-Newtonian features of the surfactant solutions. The investigation demonstrates that the PCT serves as a viable geometry for showing the non-Newtonian traits of dilute surfactant solutions.