HIV and sexual health needs of young key populations in Papua New Guinea: results of biobehavioural surveys (2016-2017).

Papua New Guinea lacks data characterising the sexual health needs of younger key populations (KP): female sex workers (FSW) and commercially and sexually exploited girls (CSE), men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender women (TGW). Biobehavioural surveys among KP were conducted in three cities. We conducted unweighted and weighted analysis for sample and population proportions, respectively.

In situ observations of large-amplitude Alfvén waves heating and accelerating the solar wind.

After leaving the Sun's corona, the solar wind continues to accelerate and cools, but more slowly than expected for a freely expanding adiabatic gas. Alfvén waves are perturbations of the interplanetary magnetic field that transport energy. We use in situ measurements from the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter spacecraft to investigate a stream of solar wind as it traverses the inner heliosphere.

Acceptability of self-collected vaginal swabs and point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted and genital infections among pregnant women in Papua New Guinea.

The self-collection of vaginal swabs and point-of-care testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is reported from several low-and middle-income countries. However, the reporting on women's experiences of self-collection and same-day testing and treatment of STIs is less well described. In this paper, we present the acceptability of self-collected vaginal swabs and point-of-care testing and treatment among pregnant women enrolled in a clinical trial (Women and Newborn Trial of Antenatal Intervention and Management - WANTAIM) in Papua New Guinea.

In situ evidence of the magnetospheric cusp of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft measurements.

The magnetospheric cusp connects the planetary magnetic field to interplanetary space, offering opportunities for charged particles to precipitate to or escape from the planet. Terrestrial cusps are typically found near noon local time, but the characteristics of the Jovian cusp are unknown. Here we show direct evidence of Jovian cusps using datasets from multiple instruments onboard Juno spacecraft.

DNA methylation at individual CpG-sites of EPB41L3, HTERT and FAM19A4 are useful for detection of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) or worse: Analysis of individual CpG-sites outperforms averaging.

Global methylation analysis of gene promoters is promising for detection of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (HSIL+) in high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)-positive women. However, diagnostic performance of methylation data at individual CpG-sites is limited. We explored methylation for predicting HSIL+ in self- and clinician-collected samples from Papua New Guinea.

Performance of and methylation as triage markers for early detection of cervical cancer in self-collected and clinician-collected samples: an exploratory observational study in Papua New Guinea.

Objective: WHO recommends human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for cervical screening, with triage of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) positive women. However, there are limitations to effective triage for low-resource, high-burden settings, such as Papua New Guinea. In this exploratory study, we assessed the performance of host methylation as triage tools for predicting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in self-collected and clinician-collected samples.

Mycoplasma genitalium in pregnancy, including specific co-infections, is associated with lower birthweight: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium infection in pregnancy is increasingly reported at similar frequencies to other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Knowledge on its contribution to adverse pregnancy outcomes is very limited, especially relative to other STIs or bacterial vaginosis (BV). Whether M.

Point-of-care testing and treatment of sexually transmitted and genital infections to improve birth outcomes in high-burden, low-resource settings (WANTAIM): a pragmatic cluster randomised crossover trial in Papua New Guinea.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and bacterial vaginosis have been associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, but there is conflicting evidence on the benefits of antenatal screening and treatment for these conditions. We aimed to determine the effect of antenatal point-of-care testing and immediate treatment of C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, T vaginalis, and bacterial vaginosis on preterm birth, low birthweight, and other adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes compared with current standard of care, which included symptom-based treatment without laboratory confirmation.

Methods: In this pragmatic cluster randomised crossover trial, we enrolled women (aged ≥16 years) attending an antenatal clinic at 26 weeks' gestation or earlier (confirmed by obstetric ultrasound), living within approximately 1 h drive of a study clinic, and able to provide reliable contact details at ten primary health facilities and their catchment communities (clusters) in Papua New Guinea.

Evaluation of Illumina® COVIDSeq™ as a tool for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 characterisation.

The continued emergence and transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants requires ongoing genetic surveillance to support public health responses. The expansion of reliable next generation sequence (NGS) platforms has enabled the rapid characterisation of the constant emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants using nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Several studies have assessed the ability of COVIDSeq to type earlier SARS-CoV-2 strains (pre-Delta) rapidly and successfully, however, there is limited data showing suitability against Omicron variants.

Flexible and Innovative Connectivity Solution to Support National Decentralized Infectious Diseases Point-of-Care Testing Programs in Primary Health Services: Descriptive Evaluation Study.

Background: Molecular point-of-care (POC) testing for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) has been available in regional and remote primary health services in Australia as part of a decentralized POC testing program since 2016 and for SARS-CoV-2 from 2020. As there was no suitable existing connectivity infrastructure to capture and deliver POC test results to a range of end users, a new system needed to be established.

Objective: The aim of the study is to design, implement, and optimize a connectivity system to meet clinical management, analytical quality management, and public health surveillance needs.

"This is really something: same place, same day result, same day treatment" women's experiences of testing positive for HPV and receiving same-day treatment in Papua New Guinea: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is transforming cervical screening globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends same-day HPV screen-and-treat for primary cervical screening in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) but there is a lack of evidence on women's lived experience of testing positive for oncogenic HPV and receiving same-day treatment. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap among women participating in a same-day HPV screen-and-treat (HPV S&T) program in Papua New Guinea.

Interchange reconnection as the source of the fast solar wind within coronal holes.

The fast solar wind that fills the heliosphere originates from deep within regions of open magnetic field on the Sun called 'coronal holes'. The energy source responsible for accelerating the plasma is widely debated; however, there is evidence that it is ultimately magnetic in nature, with candidate mechanisms including wave heating and interchange reconnection. The coronal magnetic field near the solar surface is structured on scales associated with 'supergranulation' convection cells, whereby descending flows create intense fields.

The effect of the Xpert HIV-1 Qual test on early infant diagnosis of HIV in Myanmar and Papua New Guinea: a pragmatic, cluster-randomised, stepped-wedge, open-label trial.

Background: Despite proven benefits for child health, coverage of early infant diagnosis of HIV remains suboptimal in many settings. We aimed to assess the effect of a point-of-care early infant diagnosis test on time-to-results communication for infants vertically exposed to HIV.

Methods: This pragmatic, cluster-randomised, stepped-wedge, open-label trial assessed the effect of the Xpert HIV-1 Qual early infant diagnosis test (Cepheid) on time-to-results communication, compared with standard care laboratory-based testing of dried blood spots using PCR.

Women's acceptability of a self-collect HPV same-day screen-and-treat program in a high burden setting in the Pacific.

Background: A field trial to evaluate a self-collect point-of-care HPV screen-and-treat (HPV S&T) program was implemented in two Well Women Clinics in Papua New Guinea (Papua New Guinea). Assessing the acceptability of a health intervention is a core element of evaluation. In this study, we examined women's acceptability of both self-collection and HPV S&T intervention in Papua New Guinea.

Inborn errors of metabolism refuse to stay-at-home: Experiences of a state-wide biochemical genetics service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: The New South Wales (NSW) biochemical genetics (BG) service in Australia developed business continuity plans (BCPs) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the essential service remained operational. This article aims to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 BCPs on the NSW BG service and patient care.

Methods: BCPs were developed that included charting of NSW BG service workflow and services against staff resources and clinical impact on patients.

SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR to Screen for B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant of Concern.

The continuous transmission and evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has required that diagnostic capabilities be constantly monitored and updated as new variants emerge and prior variants disappear. Although whole genome sequencing provides full characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 directly from patient samples, this has limited throughput and requires sufficient resources. To enhance screening for circulating variants, we designed a rapid in-house RT-PCR assay to target a spike mutation (D950N) in Delta variants, which is not detected in the remaining variants of concern (VOCs).

Sexual and reproductive health needs and practices of female sex workers in Papua New Guinea: findings from a biobehavioral survey Kauntim mi tu ('Count me too').

Background: Little research has explored the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experience of female sex workers (FSW), including girls aged < 18 years who are commercially sexually exploited (CSE), in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This paper describes the SRH history of FSW and CSE girls and factors associated with their use of moderately or highly effective contraceptive methods in three settings in PNG.

Methods: From 2016 to 2017, respondent-driven sampling (RDS) surveys were conducted among FSW and CSE girls in Port Moresby, Lae, and Mt.

Point-of-care HPV DNA testing of self-collected specimens and same-day thermal ablation for the early detection and treatment of cervical pre-cancer in women in Papua New Guinea: a prospective, single-arm intervention trial (HPV-STAT).

Background: WHO recommends human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and same-day treatment for cervical screening in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, few published data exist on the validity of the strategy. We aimed to evaluate the clinical performance, treatment completion rates, adverse events profile, and acceptability of a fully integrated strategy, comprising point-of-care HPV DNA testing of self-collected specimens and same-day thermal ablation, for screening of cervical cancer in women in Papua New Guinea.

Methods: HPV-STAT was a large-scale, prospective, single-arm intervention trial conducted at two clinical sites in Papua New Guinea.

Searching for a Solar Source of Magnetic-Field Switchbacks in Parker Solar Probe's First Encounter.

Parker Solar Probe observations show ubiquitous magnetic-field reversals closer to the Sun, often referred to as "switchbacks". The switchbacks have been observed before in the solar wind near 1 AU and beyond, but their occurrence was historically rare. PSP measurements below ∼ 0.

Towards the elimination of cervical cancer in low-income and lower-middle-income countries: modelled evaluation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of point-of-care HPV self-collected screening and treatment in Papua New Guinea.

Introduction: WHO has launched updated cervical screening guidelines, including provisions for primary HPV screen-and-treat. Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a high burden of cervical cancer, but no national cervical screening programme. We recently completed the first field trials of a screen-and-treat algorithm using point-of-care self-collected HPV and same-day treatment (hereafter self-collected HPV S&T) and showed this had superior clinical performance and acceptability to visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA).

The Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistant in Papua New Guinea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

antimicrobial resistance (NG AMR) has become an urgent concern globally. The World Health Organization, the United States of America Centers for Disease Control, and other regulators have called to improve resistance-testing methods to enhance NG AMR surveillance. NG AMR surveillance remains critical in informing treatment; unfortunately, this is often lacking in settings with limited resources, such as Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Periodicities in an active region correlated with Type III radio bursts observed by Parker Solar Probe.

Context: Periodicities have frequently been reported across many wavelengths in the solar corona. Correlated periods of ~5 min, comparable to solar -modes, are suggestive of coupling between the photosphere and the corona.

Aims: Our study investigates whether there are correlations in the periodic behavior of Type III radio bursts which are indicative of nonthermal electron acceleration processes, and coronal extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission used to assess heating and cooling in an active region when there are no large flares.

Parker Solar Probe Enters the Magnetically Dominated Solar Corona.

The high temperatures and strong magnetic fields of the solar corona form streams of solar wind that expand through the Solar System into interstellar space. At 09:33 UT on 28 April 2021 Parker Solar Probe entered the magnetized atmosphere of the Sun 13 million km above the photosphere, crossing below the Alfvén critical surface for five hours into plasma in casual contact with the Sun with an Alfvén Mach number of 0.79 and magnetic pressure dominating both ion and electron pressure.