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A research question was posed to us by a local HIV-resource organization interested in exploring the educational and service needs of those unreached. In order to properly address this inquiry, we developed a community-based participatory research by training peer-led volunteers to facilitate focus-group discussions within Aboriginal and refugees participants following an interview guide. We gathered Aboriginal people and refugees separated into three focus groups each, enrolling a total of 41 self-identified HIV-positive, 38 males. The discussions were tape recorded upon consent and lasted between 59 and 118 minutes. We analyzed the thematic information collected interactively through constant comparison. The qualitative data leading to categories, codes, and themes formed the basis for the spatial representation of a conceptual mapping. Both groups shared similar struggles in living with HIV and in properly accessing local nonmedical HIV resources and discussed their concerns towards the need for empowerment and support to take control of their health.

Purpose: To study the direct effect of heavy ions and electrons on thymidine. Materials and methods: The thymidine samples in the solid state were exposed to a beam of O7+ heavy ions with an energy of 10.6 MeV/u (LET 500 keV/ mu m) and to electrons of 2 MeV (LET 0.18 keV/ mu m). The major decomposition products of thymidine were purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by extensive spectrometric measurements (UV, mass spectroscopy, 1H and 13C NMR). Results: The main degradation products of thymidine were isolated and characterized. Reaction mechanisms, involving transient radical species, are proposed to explain the heavy ionmediated formation of the modified products. Furthermore, a semi-quantitative comparison of the modifications induced within thymidine by the two types of radiations was performed. Conclusion: Several new radiation-induced thymidine decomposition products have been isolated and characterized. The comparison of the effects induced by heavy ions and electrons on thymidine in the solid state clearly indicates several significant differences in the mechanisms of action. A relative increase in the extent of the modifications of the sugar moiety with respect to those of the base is observed with the heavy ions by comparison with electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tooth decay and other oral diseases can be highly prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Even though dental professionals are trained to provide equal and non-judgemental services to all, intentional or unintentional biases may exist with regard to PLWHA. We conducted qualitative descriptive research using individual interviews to explore the experiences of PLWHA accessing dental care services in Vancouver, Canada. We interviewed 25 PLWHA, aged 23-67 years; 21 were men and 60% reported fair or poor oral health. Thematic analysis showed evidence of both self-stigma and public stigma with the following themes: fear, self-stigma and dental care; overcoming past offences during encounters with dental care professionals; resilience and reconciliation to achieve quality care for all; and current encounters with dental care providers. Stigma attached to PLWHA is detrimental to oral care. The social awareness of dental professionals must be enhanced, so that they can provide the highest quality care to this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fight counterfeits and to protect the consumer, the interest in certifying the origin of agricultural goods has been steadily growing in the last years. While numerous works focus on the finished product, an aspect often overlooked is the origin of the raw materials and the direct correlation between chemicals in the soil and the plants. With inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis, trace and ultratrace elements in Sangiovese grapes (the main component of Chianti wine) were measured and their levels were used to investigate the geographical origin of the samples. This was achieved despite the extreme closeness of some of the vineyard partners of this study (10-20 km range) by computing a multivariate model using selected elements as levels. The model was then validated on samples coming from different zones of the Chianti area, with good results for discriminating even extremely close regions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Starting from 1952 C.E. more than 540 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests (NWT) were conducted in different locations of the Earth. This lead to the injection of about 2.8 t of 239 Pu in the environment, roughly corresponding to a total 239 Pu radioactivity of 6.5 PBq. A semiquantitative ICP-MS method was used to measure this isotope in an ice core drilled in Dome C (East Antarctica). The age scale for the ice core studied in this work was built by searching for well-known volcanic signatures and synchronising these sulfate spikes with established ice core chronologies. The reconstructed plutonium deposition history was compared with previously published NWT records, pointing out an overall agreement. The geographical location of the tests was found to be an important parameter strongly affecting the concentration of 239 Pu on the Antarctic ice sheet. Despite the low yield of the tests conducted in the 1970s, we highlight their important role in the deposition of radioactivity in Antarctica due to the relative closeness of the testing sites., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Inter-clinician electronic consultation (eConsult) programmes are becoming more widespread in the USA as health care systems seek innovative ways of improving specialty access. Existing studies examine models with programmatic incentives or requirements for primary care providers (PCPs) to participate., Objective: We aimed to examine PCP perspectives on eConsults in a system with no programmatic incentive or requirement for PCPs to use eConsults., Methods: We conducted seven focus groups with 41 PCPs at a safety-net community teaching health care system in Eastern Massachusetts, USA., Results: Focus groups revealed that eConsults improved PCP experience by enabling patient-centred care and enhanced PCP education. However, increased workload and variations in communication patterns added challenges for PCPs. Patients were perceived as receiving timelier and more convenient care. Timelier care combined with direct documentation in the patient record was perceived as improving patient safety. Although cost implications were less clear, PCPs perceived costs as being lowered through fewer unnecessary visits and laboratories., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that eConsult systems with no programmatic incentives or requirements for PCPs have the potential to improve care., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: The Affordable Care Act was modeled on the Massachusetts Health Reform of 2006, which reduced the number of uninsured largely through a Medicaid expansion and the provision of publicly subsidized insurance obtained through a Health Benefits Exchange., Methods: We surveyed a convenience sample of 780 patients seeking care in a safety-net system who obtained Medicaid or publicly subsidized insurance after the Massachusetts reform, as well as a group of employed patients with private insurance., Results: We found that although most patients with Medicaid or publicly subsidized exchange-based plans were able to obtain assistance with applying for and choosing an insurance plan, substantial proportions of respondents experienced difficulties with the application process and with understanding coverage and cost features of plans., Conclusions: Under the Affordable Care Act, efforts to simplify the application process and reduce the complexity of plans may be warranted, particularly for vulnerable patient populations cared for by the medical safety net.