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Abstract De novo mutations (DNMs) are drivers of genetic disorders. However, the study of DNMs is hampered by technological limitations preventing accurate quantification of ultra-rare mutations. Duplex Sequencing (DS) theoretically has T. Blood MF and substitution spectrum were similar to those reported in blood cells with an orthogonal method. The sperm MF was in the same order of magnitude and had a strikingly similar spectrum to DNMs from publicly available whole genome sequencing data from human pedigrees (1.2 × 10− 8 per bp). DS revealed much larger numbers of insertions and deletions in sperm over blood, driven by an abundance of putative extra-chromosomal circular DNAs. The study indicates the strong potential of DS to characterize human DNMs to inform factors that contribute to disease susceptibility and heritable genetic risks.

Objectives We aimed to evaluate the personal, professional, and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital workers and their perceptions about mitigating strategies. Design Cross-sectional web-based survey consisting of (1) a survey of the personal and professional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential mitigation strategies, and (2) two validated psychological instruments (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K10] and Impact of Events Scale Revised [IES-R]). Regression analyses were conducted to identify the predictors of workplace stress, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress. Setting and participants Hospital workers employed at 4 teaching and 8 non-teaching hospitals in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Among 1875 respondents (84% female, 49% frontline workers), 72% feared falling ill, 64% felt their job placed them at great risk of COVID-19 exposure, and 48% felt little control over the risk of infection. Respondents perceived that others avoided them (61%), reported increased workplace stress (80%), workload (66%) and responsibilities (59%), and 44% considered leaving their job. The psychological questionnaires revealed that 25% had at least some psychological distress on the K10, 50% had IES-R scores suggesting clinical concern for post-traumatic stress, and 38% fulfilled criteria for at least one psychological diagnosis. Female gender and feeling at increased risk due to PPE predicted all adverse psychological outcomes. Respondents favoured clear hospital communication (59%), knowing their voice is heard (55%), expressions of appreciation from leadership (55%), having COVID-19 protocols (52%), and food and beverages provided by the hospital (50%). Conclusions Hospital work during the COVID-19 pandemic has had important personal, professional, and psychological impacts. Respondents identified opportunities to better address information, training, and support needs.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the role of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV1) in the epidemiology of genital herpes in Canada. Data on herpes viral cultures for two consecutive years obtained from L’Hôpital Dr GL Dumont, which performs all the viral culture testing in New Brunswick, were reviewed. It was hypothesized that HSV1 was the main cause of genital herpes in New Brunswick.

The gas-phase basicities of a representative set of hydroxy- and methoxycarbonyl compounds (hydroxyacetone, 1, 3-hydroxybutanone, 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanone, 3, 1-hydroxy-2-butanone, 4, 4-hydroxy-2-butanone, 5, 5-hydroxy-2-pentanone, 6, methoxyacetone, 7, 3-methoxy-2-butanone, 8, 4-methoxy-2-butanone, 9, and 5-methoxy-2-pentanone, 10) were experimentally determined by the equilibrium method using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance and high-pressure mass spectrometry techniques. The latter method allows the measurement of proton transfer equilibrium constants at various temperatures and thus the estimate of both the proton affinities and the protonation entropies of the relevant species. Quantum chemical calculations at the G3 and the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//6-31G(d) levels of theory were undertaken in order to find the most stable structures of the neutrals 1−10 and their protonated forms. Conformational and vibrational analyses have been done with the aim of obtaining a theoretical estimate of the protonation entropies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipases (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) are part of the family of hydrolases that act on carboxylic ester bonds. The physiologic role of lipases is to hydrolyze triglycerides into diglycerides, monoglycerides, fatty acids, and glycerol. These enzymes are widely found throughout the animal and plant kingdoms, as well as in molds and bacteria. Of all known enzymes, lipases have attracted the most scientific attention. In addition to their natural function of hydrolyzing carboxylic ester bonds, lipases can catalyze esterification, interesterification, and transesterification reactions in nonaqueous media. This versatility makes lipases the enzymes of choice for potential applications in the food, detergent, pharmaceutical, leather, textile, cosmetic, and paper industries. The most significant industrial applications of lipases have been mainly found in the food, detergent, and pharmaceutical sectors. Limitations of the industrial use of these enzymes have mainly been owing to their high production costs, which may be overcome by molecular technologies, enabling the production of these enzymes at high levels and in a virtually purified form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]