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Here, we present the draft genome for a new putative species, Gaiellasilicea maunaloa , most closely related to Gaiella occulta , within the phylum Actinobacteria. This group contains Gram-negative, aerobic mesophilic species. This metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) contributes to knowledge of life in volcanic environments and may inform investigations of life beyond Earth.

We report the draft genome sequence of a putative new genus and species, Siliceabacter maunaloa , in the family Solirubrobacteraceae . The members of this family of Actinobacteria are generally Gram positive and mesophilic. Found within a Hawaiian lava tube, this microbe illuminates the types of prokaryotes inhabiting secondary minerals in subsurface basaltic environments.

ObjectivesSexual harassment among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) is a prevalent and understudied form of gender-based violence (GBV) with negative impacts on health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic raised global concern about GBV within homes; less is known about how it affected GBV in public spaces.MethodsPresent analyses use cross-sectional data from a cohort of adolescents and young adults residing in Nairobi, Kenya, restricted to female participants. Data were collected August–October 2020 via phone after implementation of COVID-19 restrictions. Prevalence of past-year sexual harassment and harassment relative to COVID-19 restrictions were calculated for overall sample, and by individual, household, and pandemic-related factors. Multivariate negative binomial regression models examine correlates of (1) past-year sexual harassment and (2) increases in sexual harassment relative to COVID-19 restrictions.ResultsOverall, 18.1% of AGYW experienced past-year sexual harassment at the 2020 survey. Among this group, 14.6% experienced sexual harassment pre-COVID-19 only, 18.8% after only and 66.6% at both time points. Among the latter group, 34.9% reported more occurrences following COVID-19 restrictions, 20.5% reported less occurrences and 44.7% reported no change in occurrence. Overall, 42.0% of AGYW experienced an increase in sexual harassment while 58.0% experienced no increase since COVID-19. In adjusted models, past-year sexual harassment was associated with higher educational attainment (adjusted risk ratio, aRR 2.11; 95% CI 1.27 to 3.52) and inability to meet basic financial needs (aRR 1.67; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.66). Increased sexual harassment since COVID-19 was associated with having full control to leave the home (aRR 1.69; 95% CI 1.00 to 2.90).ConclusionsSexual harassment among AGYW in Nairobi, Kenya was prevalent before and during COVID-19 restrictions. Safety in public spaces remains a highly gendered issue that impacts women’s safety and ability to participate in public life. Prevention and support services to address sexual harassment remain an important element in ensuring safe, sustainable public spaces.

Kristin G Bevilacqua,1 Charell Brinkley,2 Joseph McGowan,2 Frances Wallach,2 Rebecca M Schwartz3,4 1Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; 2Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA; 3Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Great Neck, NY, USA; 4Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USACorrespondence: Kristin G Bevilacqua, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA, Email kbevila1@jhu.eduIntroduction: Improvements in treatment have led to a growing population of older adults living with HIV. As this population ages, polypharmacy, or the use of more than five medications, may become more common among people living with HIV (PLWH).Methods: Two qualitative focus groups (N=7, N=8) were conducted among a sample of patients who participated in a larger study regarding differential medication adherence. Open-ended questions and probes focused on barriers and facilitators to multiple medication management as well as differential adherence.Results: Overall, patients were able to manage their polypharmacy. Social support facilitated adherence while long-term antiretroviral (ARV) use, medication-specific requirements and emotional fatigue were barriers to management. A small number of participants reported differential adherence that prioritized non-HIV medications over ARVs due to more immediate effects of non-adherence.Discussion: Findings suggest that PLWH have learned to manage their polypharmacy, but still face significant challenges adhering to multiple medications in the long-term. Future research may focus on the emotional toll of long-term ARV use and how patients’ own management strategies may be leveraged to promote adherence.Keywords: HIV/AIDS, polypharmacy, medication management, medication adherence

We report the draft genome sequence of a putative new genus and species, Siliceabacter maunaloa, in the family

Background Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen ligand (68Ga-PSMA) may represent the most promising alternative to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. Objective To test the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in this clinical context. Design, setting, and participants From January 2017 to December 2018 we prospectively enrolled 97 patients with persistently elevated prostate-specific antigen and/or Prostate Health Index score, negative digital rectal examination, and previous negative biopsy. We also included patients with either negative mpMRI or contraindications to or positive mpMRI but previous negative biopsy. Intervention Patients underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT with additional pelvic reconstruction. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The primary endpoint of the study was the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in detecting malignant lesions and clinically significant PCa (Gleason score [GS] ≥7). Results and limitations 68Ga-PSMA PET/transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy was performed in 64 of 97 patients (66%) for 114 regions of interest (ROIs). Forty patients (41%) had already undergone mpMRI with either a negative result for PCa (n = 15; 22 ROIs) or a positive mpMRI result but a previous negative biopsy. According to pathology, 23 patients (36%) had evidence of PCa: eight (16 ROIs) with GS 6, 13 (21 ROIs) with GS 7 (3 + 4 or 4 + 3), one (2 ROIs) with GS 8, and one (2 ROIs) with GS 10. Clinically significant PCa was identified in four patients with previous negative mpMRI (25%). PET/CT demonstrated PCa in seven patients (14 ROIs) with previous positive mpMRI and negative biopsy. The median maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and median SUV ratio were significantly higher for PCa lesions than for benign lesions (p 5.4) and SUV ratio (>2.2) could identify clinically significant PCa with accuracy of 81% and 90%, respectively. Conclusions In our cohort of patients with high suspicion of cancer,68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was capable of detecting malignancy and accurately identifying clinically relevant PCa. Patient summary Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with a 68Ga-labeled ligand for prostate-specific membrane antigen is capable of detecting prostate cancer in patients with a high suspicion of cancer and a previous negative biopsy.

Objective: Research indicates that greater exposure to Hurricane Sandy is associated with increased mental health difficulties. This study examined whether Project Restoration, a program that linked adults into mental health care (L2C), was effective in reducing post-Sandy mental health difficulties as compared to a cohort of adults matched on mental health difficulties that were not linked into post-Sandy mental health care. Methods: Project Restoration participants (n = 52) with elevated self-reported mental health difficulties had the option to enroll into L2C. Project LIGHT (n = 63) used similar methodologies but did not have a L2C component and served as the matched control group. Results: Multivariable modeling showed significant decreases in all mental health difficulties except for depression in the Project Restoration group, whereas there were no significant decreases in LIGHT. The decrease in anxiety from baseline to follow-up was significantly greater for Project Restoration as compared to LIGHT. Conclusion: Findings confirm the powerful impact community outreach and treatment have on reducing mental health difficulties after a disaster.

Madelung deformity is a rare wrist malformation caused by a growth disturbance of the palmar and ulnar part of the distal radial physis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of radial dome osteotomy in patients affected by Madelung deformity. The endpoint of this operation is to improve the orientation of the articular surface of the radius, so as to support to the carpal bones. Between 2017 and 2019, in our clinic, 4patients were treated using this technique. Post-operative pain was evaluated using the NRS. Functional outcomes were assessed through evaluation of ROM, grip strength via Jamar dynamometer and using DASH questionnaire. The aesthetic defects were estimated using a section of the Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire. Correction of deformities was evaluated on post-operative RX using McCarrol Criteria. Were also analyzed the accuracy and tolerance of the plates used.

House of Ruth Maryland is a comprehensive intimate partner violence (IPV) service provider. Our academic‒practitioner partnership conducted a prospective, quasi-experimental evaluation (n = 70) of on-site transitional housing and community-based rapid rehousing to meet the safety and stability needs of individuals made homeless because of IPV. By 6-month follow-up, both IPV revictimization and housing instability significantly improved (P

Objective:To describe 33 cases of malignant mesothelioma among individuals with no known asbestos exposure other than cosmetic talcum powder.Methods:Cases were referred for medico-legal evaluation, and tissue digestions were performed in some cases. Tissue digestion for the six cases described was d

Background Approximately 80% of deaths due to cervical cancer occur in the developing world. In Guatemala, limited access to effective screening and treatment has resulted in an alarmingly high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. Despite access to free-of-cost screening women continue to face significant barriers in obtaining screening for cervical cancer. Methods In-depth interviews (N=21) were conducted among women in two rural communities in Guatemala. Qualitative IDIs followed semi-structured guide to explore knowledge related to cervical cancer and barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening. Results Cervical cancer knowledge was variable across sites and across women. Women reported barriers to screening including ancillary costs, control by male partners, poor provider communication and systems-level resource constraints. Facilitators to screening included a desire to know one’s own health status, conversations with other women including community health workers and extra-governmental health fairs. Conclusions Findings speak to the many challenges women face in obtaining screening for cervical cancer in their communities as well as existing facilitators. Future interventions must focus on improving cervical cancer-related knowledge as well as mitigating barriers and leveraging facilitators to promote screening.

Introduction Musculoskeletal conditions (MSC) and frailty lead to a significant burden of disease in later life. Living independently remains the aim of older adults but ability to self-care or access care at home may hamper this. Our aim was to consider whether MSC (osteoporosis, sarcopenia, osteoarthritis) and frailty were associated with ability to self-care or influence access to formal/informal care among community-dwelling older adults. Methods Participants were recruited from an established cohort study of community-dwelling adults in the UK. Osteoporosis was assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Sarcopenia was assessed using EWSGOP2 criteria. Osteoarthritis of the hand, hip or knee was defined by clinical examination. Frailty was assessed using Fried criteria. Ability to self-care and access to formal/informal care were self-reported. Results 443 men and women (median age 75.5 [IQR 73.5–77.9] years) participated. Osteoporosis affected (n = 74) 21.4% of participants, (n = 115) 26.8% had osteoarthritis, (n = 30) 8.6% had sarcopenia, and (n = 33) 7.6% were identified as frail. Most participants (n = 402 [90.7%]) reported no problems with self-care. Identical proportions of participants received informal (n = 53 [12%]) and formal (n = 53 [12%]) care at home in the previous year. Reporting difficulties with self-care was associated with clinical osteoarthritis (OR 3.48, 95% CI 1.63–7.43, p = 0.001) and frailty (5.29, 2.12–13.2, p Conclusion MSC are associated with informal receipt of care. Presence of two or more MSC convey similar informal care requirements to those living with frailty. Early assessment and management of MSC and frailty in clinical practice may reduce need for care and preserve independence.

Background Approximately 80% of deaths due to cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. In Guatemala, limited access to effective screening and treatment has resulted in alarmingly high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. Despite access to free-of-cost screening, women continue to face significant barriers in obtaining screening for cervical cancer. Methods In-depth interviews (N = 21) were conducted among women in two rural communities in Guatemala. Interviews followed a semi-structured guide to explore knowledge related to cervical cancer and barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening. Results Cervical cancer knowledge was variable across sites and across women. Women reported barriers to screening including ancillary costs, control by male partners, poor provider communication and systems-level resource constraints. Facilitators to screening included a desire to know one’s own health status, conversations with other women, including community health workers, and extra-governmental health campaigns. Conclusions Findings speak to the many challenges women face in obtaining screening for cervical cancer in their communities as well as existing facilitators. Future interventions must focus on improving cervical cancer-related knowledge as well as mitigating barriers and leveraging facilitators to promote screening.

This study explores: 1) provider narratives of their contraceptive counseling practices with Latina patients within the context of patient-centered care (PCC); and 2) provider perceptions about the barriers to the provision of patient-centered contraceptive counseling in general and more specifically, with Latina patients in Baltimore, MD.We conducted 25 semi-structured qualitative interviews with physicians (MD/DO) and nurse practitioners from four specialties (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology) who provide contraceptive care to Latinas in Baltimore, MD. We analyzed data using a directed content analysis approach. We discuss findings with attention to major constructs of PCC, applying a reproductive justice framework.Providers described a contraceptive counseling approach focused on pregnancy prevention as the primary goal during contraceptive encounters with Latina patients. Most respondents described using a tiered-effectiveness approach when counseling even while noting the importance of PCC and its main tenets. Providers noted both health system and patient-attributed barriers to PCC. Health system barriers to PCC included time constraints and insurance status. Patient-attributed barriers reported by providers included low patient education/health literacy, culturally-attributed misconceptions about contraception, and the language barrier.Providers described knowledge of and intention to practice PCC during contraceptive care but had limited integration of it in their own counseling practices with Latinas. Provider responses suggest tension between an expressed desire to provide PCC and paternalistic counseling paradigms that prioritize the prevention of unintended pregnancy over patient preferences. Moreover, inequitable health system barriers also interfere with true implementation of contraceptive PCC.Translating contraceptive PCC into practice, especially for marginalized communities, is paramount. Training should teach clinicians to recognize systems of structural inequity and discrimination that have informed approaches to counseling but are not reflective of PCC. Institutional policies must address health system barriers (e.g., time constraints; insurance) that also hamper PCC.

We minimize elastic energies on framed curves which penalize both curvature and torsion. We also discuss critical points using the infinite dimensional version of the Lagrange multipliers’ method. Finally, some examples arising from the applications are discussed and also numerical experiments are presented.

The hadroproduction of a $W$ boson in association with a charm quark at the Large Hadron Collider is at the centre of current investigations due to its potential to probe the strangeness content of the proton. In this paper we present an implementation of the $W+c$ production process in the PowHel event generator matched to the PYTHIA8 parton shower approach, allowing to obtain predictions for differential cross-sections with NLO QCD accuracy matched to the accuracy of the Shower Monte Carlo event generator. Effects of non-diagonal CKM matrix elements, finite charm quark mass and off-shell $W$ decays including spin correlations are taken into account. We investigate the production of a leptonically decaying $W$ boson in association with either a charmed meson ($W^\pm~+~D^{*\mp}$) or a charmed jet ($W^\pm~+~j_{c}$) and compare our predictions with particle-level measurements by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at $\sqrt{s} =$ 7 and 13 TeV. Considering the level of agreement between theory predictions and experimental data in the light of present theoretical and experimental uncertainties, our results do not point to the need of extensive modifications of the strange and antistrange distribution functions in the NLO PDF fits that we used, although collider $W + c$ production data have not been included yet in these fits., Comment: 47 pages, 14 figures

Background Health education plays a fundamental role in the formation of critical and reflective health professionals, preparing them to transcend theories and experience challenging practices. For the educator, it is unique to guide the way that can transform a gap in the undergraduate medical education into a possibility of positive action. It was in this sense that the health communication training was developed, supported by theory of neurolinguistics and techniques of emotional intelligence. Teachers of the Communication, Leadership and Management Skills (speech therapist, psychologist, nurse, doctor, dentist) programmed a training to work with students, all from the second year of the undergraduate medical course, to stimulate verbal communication. and nonverbal. Six experiential activities were used in the classroom, detailing: Activity 1 - Assertive Communication;. Activity 2 - Consensus Groups. Activity 3 - Nonverbal Communication. Activity 4 - Body Shapes. Activity 5 - Perception of the Other. Objective This qualitative descriptive study aimed to report the experience of a trainning on the topic of health communication held in an institution of the public higher education system in Brazil with the purpose of promoting innovation in the education of medical students. Results Faced with activities like this, we realize that students go through a process of breaking paradigms, which significantly influences their way of thinking. Initial training should provide adequate support to students from the perspective of the knowledge spiral. From the generalist content, with the evolution of the undergraduate years, the student perfects and deepens his reflections, in a continuous process of meanings. Conclusions The training of verbal and nonverbal communication with medical students satisfactorily developed skills in personal interaction, behavioral, empathy, self-perception. Key messages This work represents a breakthrough in the field of health education towards producing technology for health professionals. Among the challenges of the 21st century is the use of new teaching methodologies that address the demands of world health problems.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Stone components and physical properties were important data in setting the laser lithotripter. The aim of the study was to investigate the hypothesis that a senior endou...

We collect results on 2-loop 2 → 3 amplitude reduction computations and discuss the progress done for the upgrade of the HELAC framework, in order to be able to compute 2—loop scattering amplitudes.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is a nephron-sparing approach that can be offered electively to patients with unifocal disease, lesion < 2 c...

Background: Demographic and contextual factors are associated with quality of life (QoL) in older adults and prediagnosis QoL among older adults has important implications for supportive care in older cancer patients. Objective: To examine whether lower educational attainment is associated with poorer QoL among community dwelling older adults just before their diagnosis of lung cancer in a nationally representative sample. Design: This study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) dataset, which provides cancer registry data linked with survey data for Medicare Advantage enrollees. Subjects: Adults 65 years and older at time of diagnosis with first or only primary lung cancer and with at least one survey before their cancer diagnosis. Measurements: Level of education attained was categorized as less than high school (

To investigate the clinical performance of a new mRNA-based urine test, aiming to avoid unnecessary follow-up cystoscopy in patients under active surveillance (AS) for recurrent NMIBC. This is a prospective cohort study enrolling patients with history of low-grade (LG) NMIBC, who developed a recurrence during the follow-up and underwent AS. Their urinary samples were analyzed by Xpert BC Monitor (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). The primary endpoint was to investigate if Xpert BC Monitor could avoid unnecessary cystoscopy during the follow-up period. Its sensitivity, specificity, PPVs and NPVs were calculated. A cutoff of 0.4 “linear discriminant analysis” (LDA) was optimized for the AS setting. The cohort consisted of 106 patients with a mean age of 72 ± 9.52 and a median follow-up from AS start of 8.8 (range 0–56.5) months. No statistically significant difference was found for the mean age, smoker status, lesion size, and number of lesions with a cutoff of 0.4. Of 106 patients, 22 (20.8%) were deemed to require treatment because of cystoscopic changes in size and/or number of lesions during the follow-up period. Using a cutoff value of

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Active surveillance (AS) has been showed to be feasible and effective in a sub-set of patients with recurrent Low-Grade Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (LG-NMIBC). Th...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Active surveillance (AS) has been showed to be feasible and effective in a sub-set of patients with recurrent low-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-NMIBC). Xp...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Stone extraction devices have become a routine tool after RIRS. Basketing increases the surgical duration and can lead to serious complications such as perforation and a...

The search for life beyond Earth is a key motivator in space exploration. Informational polymers, like DNA and RNA, are key biosignatures for life as we know it. The MinION is a miniature DNA sequencer based on versatile nanopore technology that could be implemented on future planetary missions. A critical unanswered question is whether the MinION and its protein-based nanopores can withstand increased radiation exposure outside Earth’s shielding magnetic field. We evaluated the effects of ionizing radiation on the MinION platform – including flow cells, reagents, and hardware – and discovered limited performance loss when exposed to ionizing doses comparable to a mission to Mars. Targets with harsher radiation environments, like Europa, would require improved radiation resistance via additional shielding or design refinements.

Buried upslope from the modern lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are relict lake deposits embedded in valley walls. Within these relict deposits, ancient microbial mats, or paleomats, have been preserved under extremely arid and cold conditions since the receding of larger paleolakes thousands of years ago, and now serve as a sheltered niche for microbes in a highly challenging oligotrophic environment. To explore whether paleomats could be repositories for ancient lake cells or were later colonized by soil microbes, determine what types of metabolic pathways might be present, analyze potential gene expression, and explore whether the cells are in a vegetative or dormant state, we collected paleomat samples from ancient lake facies on the northern slopes of Lake Vanda in Wright Valley in December 2016. Using a gentle lysis technique optimized to preserve longer molecules, combined with a polyenzymatic treatment to maximize yields from different cell types, we isolated high-molecular weight DNA and RNA from ancient paleomat samples. Community composition analysis suggests that the paleomat community may retain a population of indigenous mat cells that may flourish once more favorable conditions are met. In addition to harboring a diverse microbial community, paleomats appear to host heterotrophs in surrounding soils utilizing the deposits as a carbon source. Whole genome long-read PacBio sequencing of native DNA and Illumina metagenomic sequencing of size-sorted DNA (>2,500 nt) indicated possible cell viability, with mat community composed of bacterial taxa. Metagenome assemblies identified genes with predicted roles in nitrogen cycling and complex carbohydrate degradation, and we identified key metabolic pathways such as stress response, DNA repair, and sporulation. Metatranscriptomic data revealed that the most abundant transcripts code for products involved in genetic information processing pathways, particularly translation, DNA replication, and DNA repair. Our results lend new insight into the functional ecology of paleomat deposits, with implications for our understanding of cell biology, Antarctic microbiology and biogeography, and the limits of life in extremely harsh environments.

This investigation analyzed the relationships between sleep quality, mood, and game results in the elite athletes participating in Brazilian volleyball competitions. Participants (n = 277 elite Brazilian volleyball athletes, 214 (77.3%) men and 63 (22.7%) women) completed the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and reported their subjective sleep perception. Athletes with poor sleep quality reported higher scores for confusion compared to athletes with good sleep quality (p < 0.01, d = 0.43). In addition, athletes who lost their game at the time of evaluation showed higher tension (p < 0.01, d = 0.49) and confusion (p < 0.01, d = 0.32) levels compared to athletes who won their game. A regression analysis demonstrated that for each point increase in the confusion level, there was a 19.7% reduction in sleep quality. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that athletes who slept well, and won their games, had lower tension levels. Further, our results indicated that the athletes’ mood associated with their success in the competitions. Therefore, in a competition, it is important that the athletes show good sleep quality, and use techniques and strategies to ease their mood variations.