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Wastewater surveillance for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has garnered extensive public attention during the coronavirus disease pandemic as a proposed complement to existing disease surveillance systems. Over the past year, methods for detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in untreated sewage have advanced, and concentrations in wastewater have been shown to correlate with trends in reported cases. Despite the promise of wastewater surveillance, for these measurements to translate into useful public health tools, bridging the communication and knowledge gaps between researchers and public health responders is needed. We describe the key uses, barriers, and applicability of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance for supporting public health decisions and actions, including establishing ethics consideration for monitoring. Although wastewater surveillance to assess community infections is not a new idea, the coronavirus disease pandemic might be the initiating event to make this emerging public health tool a sustainable nationwide surveillance system, provided that these barriers are addressed.

Background In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive adults, low CD4 cell counts despite fully suppressed HIV-1 RNA on antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We assessed the prevalence and outcomes of poor immune response (PIR) in children receiving suppressive ART. Methods Sixteen cohorts from the European Pregnancy and Paediatric HIV Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC) contributed data. Children Results Of 2318 children included, median age was 6.4 years and 68% had advanced/severe immunosuppression at ART initiation. At 1 year of VS, 12% had PIR. In multivariable analysis, PIR was associated with older age and worse immunological stage at ART start, hepatitis B coinfection, and residing in Thailand (all P ≤ .03). Rates of AIDS/death (95% confidence interval) per 100 000 person-years were 1052 (547, 2022) among PIR versus 261 (166, 409) among immune responders; rate ratio of 4.04 (1.83, 8.92; P < .001). Conclusions One in eight children in our cohort experienced PIR despite sustained VS. While the overall rate of AIDS/death was low, children with PIR had a 4-fold increase in risk of event as compared with immune responders.

Contains fulltext : 249078.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of migrant status on treatment outcomes among children living with HIV in Europe. METHODS: Children aged

In a rapidly changing public health crisis such as COVID-19, researchers need innovative approaches that can effectively link qualitative approaches and computational methods. In this article, computational and qualitative methods are used to analyze survey data collected in March 2020 ( n = 2,270) to explore the content of persuasive messages and their relationship with self-reported health behavior—that is, social distancing. Results suggest that persuasive messages, based on participants’ perspectives, vary by gender and race and are associated with self-reported health behavior. This article illustrates how qualitative analysis and structural topic modeling can be used in synergy in a public health study to understand the public’s perception and behavior related to science issues. Implications for health communication and future research are discussed.

How and why should intercultural education address anthropogenic climate change? The paper argues that anthropogenic climate change threatens biocultural diversity, leading to linguistic and specie...

Public discourse and deliberation are key to developing socially responsible and acceptable human gene editing research and applications. Researchers have raised concerns, however, that discourse a...

The emergence of the 2019 novel coronavirus has led to more than a pandemic—indeed, COVID-19 is spawning myriad other concerns as it rapidly marches around the globe. One of these concerns is a sur...

To investigate whether arthroscopic lateral acromion resection can sufficiently reduce the critical shoulder angle (CSA) without damaging deltoid muscle insertion.Ninety patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff (RC) repair were retrospectively analysed. According to the preoperative CSA, patients were categorized as Group I (CSA 35°) and Group II (CSA ≥ 35°). Additional arthroscopic lateral acromion resection was performed in Group II. The CSA was measured 1 week postoperatively, while RC integrity and the deltoid attachment were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months via ultrasound. Deltoid function was evaluated using the Akimbo test, in which patients place their hands on the iliac crest with abduction in the coronal plane and internal rotation of the shoulder joint while simultaneously flexing the elbow joint and pronating the forearm.Large and massive RC tears were more prevalent in Group II (p = 0.017). In both groups, the CSA reduction was statistically significant (Group I = 1°: range 0°-3°, Group II = 3.7°: range 1°-8°; p 0.001). When the preoperative CSA was 40°, the respective postoperative CSA remained 35° in 83.3% of cases (p 0.001). Final shoulder strength was correlated with the amount of CSA reduction (rho = 0.41, p = 0.002). The postoperative CSA was higher, but not significantly different (n.s.), in patients with re-torn (36°, range 32°-40°) than with healed RC (33°, range 26°-38°). No clinical detachment or hypotrophy of the deltoid was observed with the Akimbo test and ultrasound evaluation.Arthroscopic lateral acromion resection is a safe procedure without affecting deltoid muscle origin or function, and it is effective in significantly reducing the CSA. However, the CSA cannot always be reduced to 35°, especially in patients with preoperative CSA values 40°.III.

The present article critically analyses the pedagogical efforts of two teachers to promote values education and intercultural reflection in their own educational practice. They teach in higher educ...

Progressive cytopenia is a serious complication among paediatric patients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS). Androgens have been used to improve blood counts in different bone marrow failure conditions. Little is known about efficacy and toxicity with new androgens (i.e., danazol) in different types of IBMFS. We identified 29 patients from the Canadian Inherited Marrow Failure Registry, who received oxymetholone or danazol. Sixteen (55%) had haematological response including patients with unclassified IBMFS (45%). Danazol showed a better toxicity profile and similar efficacy compared to oxymetholone. Androgens are an effective and safe option to ameliorate bone marrow failure in IBMFS.

Recent gene editing technologies advances, such as CRISPR/Cas9, will continue to shape the future of agriculture and genetically engineered crops. Using a representative survey of a North American ...

Study Objective: Evaluate the effects of a fast-track (FT) protocol on costs and post-operative recovery.Methods: One hundred and seventy women undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy for a benign indication were randomized in a FT protocol or a usual care protocol. A FT protocol included the combination of minimally invasive surgery, analgesia optimization, early oral refeeding and rapid mobilization of patients was compared to a usual care protocol. Primary outcome was costs. Secondary outcomes were length of stay, post-operative morbidity and patient satisfaction.Main Results: The mean total cost in the FT group was 13,070 ± 4,321 Euros (EUR) per patient, and that in the usual care group was 3.5% higher at 13,527 ± 3,925 EUR (p = 0.49). The FT group had lower inpatient surgical costs but higher total ambulatory costs during the first post-operative month. The mean hospital stay in the FT group was 52.7 ± 26.8 h, and that in the usual care group was 20% higher at 65.8 ± 33.7 h (p = 0.006). Morbidity during the first post-operative month was not significantly different between the two groups. On their day of discharge, the proportion of patients satisfied with pain management was similar in both groups [83% in FT and 78% in the usual care group (p = 0.57)]. Satisfaction with medical follow-up 1 month after surgery was also similar [91% in FT and 88% in the usual care group (p = 0.69)].Conclusion: Implementation of a FT protocol in laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications has minimal non-significant effects on costs but significantly reduces hospital stay without increasing post-operative morbidity nor decreasing patient satisfaction.Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04839263.

Importance Prompt recognition of a child with a cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS) has implications for cancer management, surveillance, genetic counseling, and cascade testing of relatives. Diagnosis of CPS requires practitioner expertise, access to genetic testing, and test result interpretation. This diagnostic process is not accessible in all institutions worldwide, leading to missed CPS diagnoses. Advances in electronic health technology can facilitate CPS risk assessment. Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a CPS prediction tool (McGill Interactive Pediatric OncoGenetic Guidelines [MIPOGG]) in identifying children with cancer who have a low or high likelihood of having a CPS. Design, Setting, and Participants In this international, multicenter diagnostic accuracy study, 1071 pediatric (

Cerebellar hemorrhagic injury (CHI) is a common complication of preterm birth. There are now many studies that have investigated the developmental consequences of CHI. This review summarizes the present state of evidence regarding the outcomes of prematurity related CHI, with a particular focus on the neuroimaging characteristics associated with adverse outcomes. Studies published to date suggest that the severity of functional deficits is dependent on injury size and topography. However, the unique contribution of the CHI to outcomes still needs to be further investigated to ensure optimal prognostic counseling.

International audience; This article presents an open source software able to convert, display and process medical images. It differentiates itself from the existing software by its ability to design complex processing pipelines and to wisely execute them on a large database. An MP3 pipeline can contain unlimited homemade or ready-made processes and can be carried out with a parallel execution system. As a viewer, MP3 allows to display up to 4 images together and to draw Regions Of Interest (ROI). Two applications showing the strengths of the software are here exposed: a preclinical study involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data and a clinical one involving Computed Tomography (CT) images. MP3 is downloadable at https://github.com/nifm-gin/MP3.

Supplemental digital content is available in the text., Objectives The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric emergency department (ED) utilization and outcomes. Methods This study is an interrupted-time-series observational study of children presenting to 11 Canadian tertiary-care pediatric EDs. Data were grouped into weeks in 3 study periods: prepandemic (January 1, 2018–January 27, 2020), peripandemic (January 28, 2020–March 10, 2020), and early pandemic (March 11, 2020–April 30, 2020). These periods were compared with the same time intervals in the 2 preceding calendar years. Primary outcomes were number of ED visits per week. The secondary outcomes were triage acuity, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mortality, length of hospital stay, ED revisits, and visits for trauma and mental health concerns. Results There were 577,807 ED visits (median age, 4.5 years; 52.9% male). Relative to the prepandemic period, there was a reduction [−58%; 95% confidence interval (CI), −63% to −51%] in the number of ED visits during the early-pandemic period, with concomitant higher acuity. There was a concurrent increase in the proportion of ward [odds ratio (OR), 1.39; 95% CI, 1.32–1.45] and intensive care unit (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01–1.42) admissions, and trauma-related ED visits among children less than 10 years (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.45–1.56). Mental health–related visits in children declined in the early-pandemic period (in

“No ideas but in hinges,” poet Stephen Rodefer once quipped in his poem “Numberless Shadows,” playfully modifying William Carlos Williams’s famous line. This essay examines line breaks as poetic hinges in the work of Ron Padgett: they are flexible spaces where the parts of the poem turn and articulate, the lines poised between conflicting forces, between formal interruption and syntactical momentum. An attempt at defining such versatile spaces, this essay seeks to explore line breaks as the pretexts for Ron Padgett’s metatextual poetics. Line breaks are pivotal points: not only are they constitutive of verse, but they also provide occasions for the poem to reflect upon itself. In Padgett’s work, they are critical junctures, when language hesitates between transitive and intransitive impulses. Le terme « line break » en anglais désigne à la fois l’acte de couper le vers et l’espace situé entre la fin du premier et le début du deuxième vers ainsi né. Cet espace est parfois désigné par le terme « enjambement » utilisé de même en anglais. Cet article interroge les difficultés de définition et les questions conceptuelles soulevées par cette notion, à la lumière du traitement que lui réserve le poète Ron Padgett dans son œuvre. Dans ses poèmes, l’enjambement est l’occasion d’un jeu au double sens de mouvement et d’« espace ménagé pour la course d’un organe » (Le Grand Robert). Les enjambements sont ces étranges espaces animés de tensions contraires (clôture et continuité) qui créent du jeu dans le poème : syntaxe et grammaire peuvent alors sortir de leurs gonds. Chez Padgett, le tournant que prend chaque fin de vers pour mener au suivant est l’occasion pour l’acte poétique de se remettre à chaque fois en jeu, suspendant son cours ne serait-ce qu’un instant avant de continuer. Cet article propose de lire les enjambements chez Padgett comme les lieux privilégiés de la réflexion métapoétique, le moment et l’endroit précis où le poète mesure ce qui fait et défait le poème.

The gold standard to diagnose intracerebral lesions after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is computed tomography (CT) scan, and due to its accessibility and improved quality of images, the global burden of CT scan for TBI patients is increasing. The recent developments of automated determination of traumatic brain lesions and medical-decision process using artificial intelligence (AI) represent opportunities to help clinicians in screening more patients, identifying the nature and volume of lesions and estimating the patient outcome. This short review will summarize what is ongoing with the use of AI and CT scan for patients with TBI.

Public opinion regarding genetic control of infectious disease vectors such as mosquitoes varies in part because the underlying risk and benefit perceptions about novel gene editing and genetic eng...

Person-centred care is widely advocated when caring for people with dementia. When a person with dementia is admitted for hospital care, hospital wards are obliged to not only address the cause for admission but also provide dementia-specific care during the hospital stay. Research has shown that the delivery of person-centred care to people with dementia is often inadequate or absent in the hospital setting. Moreover, whilst registered nurses often wish to improve the in-hospital care of patients with dementia, there is evidence of experienced barriers. This study aimed to describe registered nurses’ experiences of facilitators for the delivery of person-centred care to inpatients with dementia. By way of systematic searches in the databases PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO, qualitative studies (n = 19) reporting registered nurses experience of caring for inpatients with dementia were identified. Relevant content was analysed using a method of thematic synthesis. Three main categories and nine subcategories were presented, internal facilitators (experience and knowledge; values and beliefs; professional identity; empathy), external facilitators (physical environment; organisational culture and structure) and facilitating actions (forming a holistic picture; establishing trust; adjusting routines and interventions). While facilitators did exist in the hospital setting, the findings indicate that care received by inpatients with dementia is dependent on individual registered nurses knowledge, personal aptitude and ability to compensate for structural flaws. In order to minimise arbitrary outcomes of care for patients with dementia, consistent organisational support in the form of educational interventions and allocation of resources is crucial.

Developments in CRISPR-based gene-editing technologies have generated a growing number of proposals to edit genes in wildlife to meet conservation goals. As these proposals have attracted greater attention, controversies have emerged among scientists and stakeholder groups over potential consequences and ethical implications of gene editing. Responsible governance cannot occur without consulting broader publics, yet little effort has been made to systematically assess public understandings and beliefs in relation to this new area of applied genetic engineering. We analyzed data from a survey of U.S. adults (n = 1600), collected by YouGov, and that examined respondents' concerns about gene editing in animal and plant wildlife and how those concerns are shaped by cultural dispositions toward science and beliefs about the appropriateness of intervening in nature at the genetic level. On average, respondents perceived more risk than benefit in using these tools. Over 70% agreed that gene editing in wildlife could be "easily used for the wrong purposes." When evaluating the moral acceptability of gene editing in wildlife, respondents evaluated applications to improve survival in endangered wildlife as more morally acceptable than applications to decrease abundance in a population or eliminate a population. Belief in the authority of scientific knowledge was positively related to favorable views of the benefits, risks, and moral acceptability of editing genes in wildlife. The belief that editing genes in wildlife inappropriately intervenes in nature predicted relatively more concern about risks and moral acceptability and skepticism about benefits. Given high levels of concern and skepticism about gene editing in wildlife for conservation among the U.S. public, a take-it-slow approach to making decisions about when or whether to use these tools is advisable. Early opinions, including those uncovered in this study, are likely to be provisional. Thus, consulting the public should be an ongoing process.Opinión Pública sobre la Edición de Genes en la Conservación de Fauna Resumen El desarrollo de tecnologías de edición de genes basada en CRISPR ha generado un número creciente de propuestas para editar los genes de especies silvestres y así lograr los objetivos de conservación. Conforme estas propuestas han atraído la atención, han surgido controversias entre los grupos de científicos y accionistas sobre las consecuencias potenciales y las implicaciones éticas de la edición de genes. La gobernanza responsable no puede ocurrir sin consultar a una audiencia más amplia, y aun así se han realizado muy pocos esfuerzos por evaluar sistemáticamente las creencias y el entendimiento público relacionados con esta nueva etapa de ingeniería genética aplicada. Analizamos los resultados de una encuesta en línea realizado por YouGov entre adultos de los Estados Unidos (n = 1,600), la cual examinaba las preocupaciones de los respondientes sobre la edición genética en animales y plantas y cómo estas preocupaciones están moldeadas por la disposición cultural hacia la ciencia y las creencias sobre lo correcto que es intervenir en la naturaleza a nivel genético. En promedio, los respondientes percibieron más un riesgo que un beneficio al usar estas herramientas. Más del 70% estuvo de acuerdo en que la edición genética de especies silvestres podría “usarse fácilmente para los propósitos equivocados”. Cuando evaluamos la aceptación moral de la edición genética de la fauna, los respondientes calificaron a las aplicaciones para incrementar la supervivencia de las especies amenazadas como más aceptables moralmente que las aplicaciones para disminuir la abundancia de una población o eliminarla totalmente. La creencia en la autoridad del conocimiento científico estuvo relacionada positivamente con la opinión favorable sobre los beneficios, riesgos y la aceptación moral de la edición genética de especies silvestres. La creencia de que la edición genética de especies silvestres interviene inapropiadamente con la naturaleza predijo relativamente una mayor preocupación por los riesgos y la aceptación moral y mayor escepticismo sobre los beneficios de la edición genética. Debido a los altos niveles de preocupación y escepticismo sobre la edición genética de especies silvestres para la conservación mostrados por el público estadunidense, se recomienda utilizar una estrategia de hazlo-con-calma para decidir cuándo o si usar estas herramientas. Es probable que las primeras opiniones, incluyendo las descubiertas con este estudio, sean provisionales. Por lo tanto, consultar al público debe ser un proceso continuo.基于 CRISPR 的基因编辑技术的发展推动了越来越多以保护为目的进行野生生物基因编辑的提议。由于这些提议已经引起了很大关注, 科学家和利益相关者团体之间也对基因编辑的潜在后果和伦理影响产生了争论。在这个问题上, 只有对广大民众进行民意调查, 才有可能实现负责任的管理, 然而目前却几乎没有关于公众对基因工程应用新领域的理解和信念的系统评估工作。本研究分析了 YouGov 对美国成年人 (n = 1,600) 进行的一项在线调查, 该调查询问了受访者在野生动植物基因编辑中关心的问题, 以评估文化如何影响他们对于在遗传水平上干预自然的适当性的科学认知和信念。受访者普遍认为使用这些工具的风险大于收益。结果显示, 超过 70% 的人认为野生生物基因编辑 “很容易被用于不当目的”。在评估野生生物基因编辑的道德接受度时, 受访者认为, 与减少种群数量或消灭种群的应用相比, 提高濒危野生生物存活率的应用在道德上更容易接受。此外, 相信科学知识权威性的受访者同时对野生生物基因编辑的好处、风险和道德接受度认同度更高; 而认为野生生物基因编辑不恰当地干预了自然的受访者, 对风险和道德接受度也抱有更多担忧, 并对效果表示怀疑。考虑到美国公众对野生生物基因编辑高度关注和怀疑的态度, 在决定何时或是否使用这些工具时应当循序渐进。早期的意见, 包括本研究中发现的意见, 可能只是暂时的, 因此还需要持续咨询公众的看法。【翻译: 胡怡思; 审校: 聂永刚】.

In November of 2017, an interdisciplinary panel discussed the complexities of gene drive applications as part of the third Sackler Colloquium on “The Science of Science Communication.” The panel brought together a social scientist, life scientist, and journalist to discuss the issue from each of their unique perspectives. This paper builds on the ideas and conversations from the session to provide a more nuanced discussion about the context surrounding responsible communication and decision-making for cases of post-normal science. Deciding to use gene drives to control and suppress pests will involve more than a technical assessment of the risks involved, and responsible decision-making regarding their use will require concerted efforts from multiple actors. We provide a review of gene drives and their potential applications, as well as the role of journalists in communicating the extent of uncertainties around specific projects. We also discuss the roles of public opinion and online environments in public engagement with scientific processes. We conclude with specific recommendations about how to address current challenges and foster more effective communication and decision-making for complex, post-normal issues, such as gene drives.

Nowadays, there is full consensus that the promotion of Science, Technology and Innovation has a positive impact on the economic growth of a country. In Peru, national and institutional STI decision-making is hindered by the lack of information on research activities. The National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC) in Peru is increasingly aware of the value of embracing best practices in Research Information Management (RIM) and establishing an adequate national CRIS infrastructure, a project which has taken the name PeruCRIS. In order to assess a baseline status for RIM practices along with other research management needs, CONCYTEC visited 20 public universities, 23 private universities and 10 research institutes and promoted the participation of Peruvian institutions in a Global Survey on Research Information Management (RIM) Practices. Although only 6 institutions reported having a RIM system, more than half survey respondent institutions were in the process of exploring, acquiring or implementing one. Most RIM systems have being developed in-house, and no commercial CRIS product was reported. Interoperability of existing RIMs is very limited with internal systems. No interoperability with external systems or support for persistent identifiers was reported. Institutions expressed very positive expectations regarding the role of CONCYTEC in the establishment of a national CRIS infrastructure in Peru.

Background The determination of foetal Rhesus D (RHD) status allows appropriate use of IgRh prophylaxis by restricting its use to cases of RHD feto-maternal incompatibilities. There is a degree of uncertainty about the cost-effectiveness of foetal RHD determination, yet screening programs are being introduced into clinical practice in many countries. This paper evaluates the impact of non-invasive foetal Rhesus D (RHD) status determination on the costs of managing RHD-negative pregnant women and on the appropriate use of anti-D prophylaxis in a large sample of RHD-negative pregnant women using individual prospectively collected clinical and economic data. Methods A prospective two-armed trial of RHD negative pregnant women was performed in 11 French Obstetric Departments. Non-invasive foetal RHD genotyping was performed before 26 weeks' gestation in the experimental arm whereas the control arm participants received usual care. The costs associated with patient management in relation to their RHD negative status (biological tests, anti-D prophylaxis and visits) were calculated from inclusion to the end of the postpartum period. The costs of hospital admissions during pregnancy and delivery were also determined. Results A total of 949 patients were included by 11 centres between 2009 and 2012, and 850 completed follow-up, including medical and biological monitoring. Patients were separated into two groups: the genotyping group (n=515) and the control group (n=335). The cost of the genotyping was estimated at 140 euros per test. The total mean cost per patient was estimated at €3,259 (SD ± 1,120) and €3,004 (SD ± 1,004) in the genotyping and control groups respectively. The cost of delivery represented three quarters of the total cost in both groups. The performance of managing appropriately RHD negative anti-D prophylaxis was 88% in the genotyping group, versus 65% in the control group. Using the costs related to RHD status (biological tests, anti-D immunoglobulin injections and visits) the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated to be €578 for each percentage gain in women receiving appropriate management. Conclusion Early knowledge of the RHD status of the foetus using non-invasive foetal RHD genotyping significantly improved the management of RHD negative pregnancies with a small increase in cost. Trial registration Clinical trials registry-NCT00832962–13 January 2009 - retrospectively registered. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-018-2114-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Advances in gene editing technologies for human, plant, and animal applications have led to calls from bench and social scientists, as well as a wide variety of societal stakeholders, for broad public engagement in the decision-making about these new technologies. Unfortunately, there is limited understanding among the groups calling for public engagement on CRISPR and other emerging technologies about 1) the goals of this engagement, 2) the modes of engagement and what we know from systematic social scientific evaluations about their effectiveness, and 3) how to connect the products of these engagement exercises to societal decision or policy making. Addressing all three areas, we systematize common goals, principles, and modalities of public engagement. We evaluate empirically the likely successes of various modalities. Finally, we outline three pathways forward that deserve close attention from the scientific community as we navigate the world of Life 2.0.

Science literacy is often held up as crucial for avoiding science-related misinformation and enabling more informed individual and collective decision-making. But research has not yet examined whether science literacy actually enables this, nor what skills it would need to encompass to do so. In this report, we address three questions to outline what it should mean to be science literate in today’s world: 1) How should we conceptualize science literacy? 2) How can we achieve this science literacy? and 3) What can we expect science literacy’s most important outcomes to be? If science literacy is to truly enable people to become and stay informed (and avoid being misinformed) on complex science issues, it requires skills that span the “lifecycle” of science information. This includes how the scientific community produces science information, how media repackage and share the information, and how individuals encounter and form opinions on this information. Science literacy, then, is best conceptualized as encompassing three dimensions of literacy spanning the lifecycle: Civic science literacy, digital media science literacy, and cognitive science literacy. Achieving such science literacy, particularly for adults, poses many challenges and will likely require a structural perspective. Digital divides, in particular, are a major structural barrier, and community literacy and building science literacy into media and science communication are promising opportunities. We end with a discussion of what some of the beneficial outcomes could be—and, as importantly, will likely not be—of science literacy that furthers informed and critical engagement with science in democratic society.

As research on human applications of CRISPR advances, researchers, advisory bodies, and other stakeholder organizations continue calling for global public discourses and engagement to shape the development of human gene editing (HGE). Research that captures public views and tests ways for engaging across viewpoints is vital for facilitating these discourses. Unfortunately, such research lags behind advances in HGE research and applications. Here, we provide the first review of nationally representative public-opinion surveys focused on HGE to discuss limitations and remaining gaps, illustrating how these gaps hinder interpretation of existing studies. Rigorous research with proper methods for capturing representative public opinion of HGE is limited, especially in countries outside of the United States and on a global scale. The result is severely restricted understanding of even the surface level of public views concerning HGE. We identify broad areas where we need more and better research capturing public views, and describe how future surveys can help collect insights necessary for discourse and decision making on HGE.

International audience; Objectives: Following an alert on neural tube defects and dolutegravir, we sought to evaluate if the exposure integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) at conception was associated with birth defects or other adverse pregnancy outcomes.Methods: In the prospective national French Perinatal Cohort (EPF), we studied birth defects and other perinatal outcomes by matching each pregnant woman exposed to INSTIs with a pregnant woman exposed to darunavir/ritonavir receiving the same backbone of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and matched for other characteristics such as age, geographic origin, centre and year of delivery.Results: Among 808 women exposed to INSTIs during pregnancy (raltegravir = 703, dolutegravir = 57 and elvitegravir = 48), we reported a slightly higher rate of birth defects in infants exposed at conception to raltegravir (6.7%) vs. infants exposed to raltegravir later in pregnancy: 2.9% if initiated during pregnancy as first-line, and 2.5% as second-line treatment, P =0.04. When compared with matched controls, raltegravir exposure at conception was not significantly associated with birth defects: 6.4 vs. 2.3%, P = 0.08. There was no cluster of birth defect type and no neural tube defects were observed. Other perinatal outcomes, such as preterm birth and stillbirths, did not differ significantly between raltegravir-exposed women and matched counterparts. No difference in any outcome was observed for elvitegravir/cobicistat or dolutegravir.Conclusion: We found a nonsignificant trend for an association between exposure to raltegravir at conception and birth defects, which needs to be evaluated by larger prospective surveillance data, as these drugs are increasingly prescribed in women living with HIV.

Primary CNS tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in pediatrics. It is essential to understand treatment trends to interpret national survival data. In Canada, children with CNS tumors are treated at one of 16 tertiary care centers. We surveyed pediatric neuro-oncologists to create a national standard of practice to be used in the absence of a clinical trial for seven of the most prevalent brain tumors in children. This allowed description of practice across the country, along with a consensus. This had a multitude of benefits, including understanding practice patterns, allowing for a basis to compare in future research and informing Health Canada of the current management of patients. This also allows all children in Canada to receive equivalent care, regardless of location.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Congenital heart disease is a leading cause of neurocognitive impairment. Many subcortical structures are known to play a crucial role in higher-order cognitive processing. However, comprehensive anatomic characterization of these structures is currently lacking in the congenital heart disease population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the morphometry and volume of the globus pallidus, striatum, and thalamus between youth born with congenital heart disease and healthy peers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited youth between 16 and 24 years of age born with congenital heart disease who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery before 2 years of age (n = 48) and healthy controls of the same age (n = 48). All participants underwent a brain MR imaging to acquire high-resolution 3D T1-weighted images. RESULTS: Smaller surface area and inward bilateral displacement across the lateral surfaces of the globus pallidus were concentrated anteriorly in the congenital heart disease group compared with controls (q

Enhancement of single photon source emission through cavity quantum electrodynamics is key to the realization of applicable emitters in many quantum optics technologies. In this work, we present a flexible and convenient cavity fabrication process that writes a SU-8 microstrip onto a photonic crystal waveguide deterministically, in which InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots are present as emitters. The strip cavity is laser patterned at the location of a quantum dot with a chosen emission wavelength. Micro-photoluminescence studies are undertaken, which demonstrate an enhanced emission intensity by a factor of 2.1 with weak coupling to a single quantum dot, and time-resolved photoluminescence further shows a Purcell enhancement factor of 2.16. The fabrication process is, thus, verified as a reliable recipe to introduce deterministic cavity coupling to a chosen quantum dot.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on societies globally. To help contain the spread of the disease, schools around the world have closed, affecting 1.6 billion learners – approximately 91 per cent of the world’s enrolled students. Governments and education stakeholders have responded swiftly to continue children’s learning, using various delivery channels including digital tools, TV/radio-based teaching and take-home packages for parent or caregiver-guided education. However, the massive scale of school closures caused by COVID-19 has laid bare the uneven distribution of the technology needed to facilitate remote learning. It has also highlighted the lack of preparedness and low resilience of systems to support teachers, facilitators and parents/caregivers in the successful and safe use of technology for learning.

International audience; The present paper introduces a novel methodology for Unscented Kalman Filtering (UKF) on manifolds that extends previous work by the authors on UKF on Lie groups. Beyond filtering performance, the main interests of the approach are its versatility, as the method applies to numerous state estimation problems, and its simplicity of implementation for practitioners not being necessarily familiar with manifolds and Lie groups. We have developed the method on two independent open-source Python and Matlab frameworks we call UKF-M, for quickly implementing and testing the approach. The online repositories contain tutorials, documentation, and various relevant robotics examples that the user can readily reproduce and then adapt, for fast prototyping and benchmarking. The code is available at https://github.com/CAOR-MINES-ParisTech/ukfm.

ObjectivesThe objectives were to assess the microbiological stability and the physical enclosure integrity of the overwrapping for batch production of standard cytotoxic injectable solutions.MethodsBroth culture media were used in place of cytotoxic drugs to assess the worst case in term of microbiological contamination risk. Iterative sterility tests on batches were performed for 60 days using rapid microbiological method. Validation of microbiological growth of culture media was assessed by direct inoculation of ResultsNo microbiological contamination was observed on all units of batches for 60 days of investigation. The ability to detect microbiological growth in cytotoxic solutions was validated for the eight challenge microorganisms after 1/10 dilution for cytotoxic investigated, except for 5 Fluorouracil, gemcitabine and cisplatin. In addition, physical integrity testing of the seal of overwrapping pointed out the need of specific validation of heatsealer and operator education.ConclusionsBesides physico-chemical testing, microbiological stability testing combined to physical integrity testing is the additional part of the development method for batch production of sterile drugs in hospital.

Micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation is a promising and relatively new technique that uses repetitive micropulses of diode laser energy, delivered with the Cyclo G6 Glaucoma Laser System (Iridex Corporation), in an off-and-on cyclical manner. This review article provides an update on the latest data available for this technique, including a discussion of the aspects in which there is still limited data, such as the precise mechanism of action, the ideal laser parameters based on total energy levels, as well as an overview of other potentially relevant variables that may be playing an important role in outcomes.

Purpose To report for the first time the successful use of the Kahook Dual Blade excisional goniotomy technique in a patient with Transthyretin Amyloidosis. Patient and methods The Kahook Dual Blade is a single use ab interno trabeculectomy device that removes the trabecular meshwork reducing aqueous humor outflow resistance. A patient with Transthyretin Amyloidosis underwent this procedure. Results Ab interno goniotomy with Kahook Dual Blade was a successful surgical solution to reduce intraocular pressure in a patient with Transthyretin Amyloidosis secondary glaucoma controlling IOP in association with topical hypotensors for at least 6 months. Conclusions Ab interno goniotomy with Kahook Dual Blade is a surgical option for this type of glaucoma, that treats the main site of aqueous outflow resistance in this pathology with the advantage of being minimally invasive.

To compare radiologically balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) and vertebral compression fracture (VCF) expansion and corroborate with a finite element (FE) analysis. The principle of BKP is to stabilize VCF by restoring vertebral body anatomy using bone expansion and cement filling. More recently, vertebral body stenting (VBS) has been developed to reduce the loss of vertebral height observed after balloon deflation. A retrospective, monocentric and continuous study of 60 non-osteoporotic fractures of the thoracolumbar junction treated by vertebral bone expansion was carried out over three years. The main endpoint was radiological correction of vertebral kyphosis (VK) at 3 months. The other studied parameters were vertebral height, index of Farcy, index of Beck, cement leakages and their location. A FE model was developed to analyze effects linked to the stent during cement injection, specifically throughout the risk of cement leakage evaluation. After three months, average reduction of VK was 4.73° ± 4.8° after BKP, and 4.63° ± 2.7° after VBS. There was no difference between the two techniques, but cement leakage was significantly greater with BKP (41.7%) than with VBS (4.2%). FE analysis showed substantial changes of the cement flow orientation in the presence of a stent. BKP and VBS offer comparable expansion with no added value of VBS in non-osteoporotic VCF reduction. VBS technique appears to prevent cement leakage due to its mesh architecture hindering the leaking process. In counterpart, such balloon expansion is likely to require higher pressure to deploy the stent. This could be an important parameter to take into account in young patients with high bone density.

Objective Over the past 20 years, there has been a growing interest in the psychosocial outcomes of children and adolescents born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to appraise and synthesize current literature on the psychosocial outcomes of children and adolescents with severe CHD. Methods A search of studies examining psychosocial outcomes in children and adolescents with severe CHD was performed. Meta-analyses were used to calculate the prevalence of psychosocial impairments and the standardized mean differences between cases and controls. Results that were not included in the meta-analysis were collated using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 16 studies were included in this review, and results were summarized according to three domains: behavior, social cognition, and self-esteem. Results from a meta-analysis identified that 25% of children and adolescents with CHD presented behavioral problems. Children and adolescents with CHD had more problematic behavior than healthy peers (standardized mean difference; g = 0.71). Young people with CHD had significantly more difficulties inferring on the mental states of others (standardized mean difference; g = 0.72). In contrast, identifying the emotions of others and self-esteem was not statistically different from healthy controls. Conclusion This review and meta-analysis provides evidence to support the presence of psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents born with a severe CHD giving grounds for the systematic assessment of behavior and social cognition during their clinical follow-up.

Using the Zika outbreak as a context of inquiry, this study examines how assigning blame on social media relates to the social amplification of risk framework (SARF). Past research has discussed the relationship between the SARF and traditional mass media, but the role of social media platforms in amplification or attenuation of risk perceptions remains understudied. Moreover, the communication and perceptions of Zika-related risk are not limited to discussions in English. To capture conversations in languages spoken by affected countries, this study combines data in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. To better understand the assignment of blame and perceptions of risk in new media environments, we looked at three different facets of conversations surrounding Zika on Facebook and Twitter: the prominence of blame in each language, how specific groups were discussed throughout the Zika outbreak, and the sentiment expressed about genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes. We combined machine learning with human coding to analyze public discourse in all three languages. We found differences between languages and platforms in the amount of blame assigned to different groups. We also found more negative sentiments expressed about GE mosquitoes on Facebook than on Twitter. These meaningful differences only emerge from analyses across the three different languages and platforms, pointing to the importance of multilingual approaches for risk communication research. Specific recommendations for outbreak and risk communication practitioners are also discussed.

In 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) formally launched the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) Programme. The AOP framework has the potential for predictive utility in identifying early biological endpoints linked to adverse effects. It uses the weight of correlative evidence to identify a minimal set of measurable key events that link molecular initiating events to an adverse outcome. AOPs have the capability to identify knowledge gaps and priority areas for future research based on relevance to an adverse outcome. In addition, AOPs can identify pathways that are common among multiple stressors, thereby allowing for the possibility of refined risk assessments based on co-exposure considerations. The AOP framework is increasingly being used in chemical and ecological risk assessment; however, its use in the development of radiation-specific pathways has yet to be fully explored. To bring awareness of the AOP framework to the Canadian radiation community, a workshop was held in Canada in June 2018 that brought together radiation experts from Health Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.The purpose of the workshop was to share knowledge on the AOP framework, specifically (1) to introduce the concept of the AOP framework and its possible utility to Canadian radiation experts; (2) to provide examples on how it has advanced risk assessment; (3) to discuss an illustrative example specific to ionizing radiation; and lastly (4) to identify the broad benefits and challenges of the AOP framework to the radiation community.The participants showed interest in the framework, case examples were described and areas of challenge were identified. Herein, we summarize the outcomes of the workshop.Overall, participants agreed that by building AOPs in the radiation field, a network of data-sharing initiatives will enhance our interpretation of existing knowledge where current scientific evidence is minimal. They would provide new avenues to understand effects at low-dose and dose-rates and help to quantify the combined effect of multiple stressors on shared mechanistic pathways.

We present an analysis of how citizens form attitudes about labeling nanotechnology, building on previous work on the socio-cultural dynamics under publics’ perceptions of risks and governance of e...

This study surveyed 137 policymakers and key stakeholders (e.g., employees of government agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, industry, and advocacy groups) involved in making decisions on nuclear energy policy, investigating how they differentially perceived the importance of scientific evidence in driving nuclear policy. We also identified the policy areas that each group of decision-makers are mostly concerned about and showed how such concerns might contextualize and ultimately shape their perceptions of science-driven policy. Keywords: Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Fuel Cycles, Science-driven Policy, Scientist–Policymaker Communication

With social networking site (SNS) use now ubiquitous in American culture, researchers have started paying attention to its effects in a variety of domains. This study explores the relationships between measures of Facebook use and political knowledge levels using a pair of representative samples of U.S. adults. We find that although the mere use of Facebook was unrelated to political knowledge scores, how Facebook users report engaging with the SNS was strongly associated with knowledge levels. Importantly, the increased use of Facebook for news consumption and news sharing was negatively related to political knowledge levels. Possible explanations and implications are discussed.

Social media and its embedded user commentary are playing increasingly influential roles in the news process. However, researchers’ understanding of the social media commenting environment remains limited, despite rising concerns over uncivil comments. Accordingly, this study used a supervised machine learning–based method of content analysis to examine the extent and patterns of incivility in the comment sections of 42 US news outlets’ Facebook pages over an 18-month period in 2015–2016. These outlets were selected as being broadly representative of national, local, conservative, and liberal-news media. The findings provide the first empirical evidence that both the level and the targets of incivility in the comments posted on news outlets’ Facebook pages vary greatly according to such entities’ general type and ideological stance.

Objectives To compare regional cerebral cortical microstructural organization between preterm infants at term-equivalent age (TEA) and healthy full-term newborns, and to examine the impact of clinical risk factors on cerebral cortical micro-organization in the preterm cohort. Study design We prospectively enrolled very preterm infants (gestational age (GA) at birth, Highlights • Microstructure of the cerebral cortex in preterm infants was assessed using DTI. • Preterm birth alters regional micro-organization of the cerebral cortex. • Mild to moderate brain injury did not affect cerebral cortical microstructure. • Hydrocortisone treatment was related to accelerated cortical micro-organization.