High-energy quasiparticle injection into mesoscopic superconductors.

At non-zero temperatures, superconductors contain excitations known as Bogoliubov quasiparticles (QPs). The mesoscopic dynamics of QPs inform the design of quantum information processors, among other devices. Knowledge of these dynamics stems from experiments in which QPs are injected in a controlled fashion, typically at energies comparable to the pairing energy.

Charge Transfer and Spin Dynamics in a Zinc Porphyrin Donor Covalently Linked to One or Two Naphthalenediimide Acceptors.

Quantum coherence effects on charge transfer and spin dynamics in a system having two degenerate electron acceptors are studied using a zinc 5,10,15-tri(-pentyl)-20-phenylporphyrin (ZnP) electron donor covalently linked to either one or two naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NDI) electron acceptors using an anthracene (An) spacer, ZnP-An-NDI () and ZnP-An-NDI (), respectively. Following photoexcitation of and in toluene at 295 K, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy shows that the electron transfer (ET) rate constant for is about three times larger than that of , which can be accounted for by the statistical nature of incoherent ET as well as the electron couplings for the charge separation reactions. In contrast, the rate constant for charge recombination (CR) of is about 25% faster than that of .

Use of liquefied petroleum gas in Puno, Peru: Fuel needs under conditions of free fuel and near-exclusive use.

Reducing the burden of household air pollution could be achieved with exclusive adoption of cleaner fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). However, we lack understanding of how much LPG is required to support exclusive use and how household characteristics affect this quantity. This paper used data from 90 participants in the Cardiopulmonary outcomes and Household Air Pollution (CHAP) trial in Puno, Peru who received free LPG deliveries for one year.

DeepCAT: Deep Computer-Aided Triage of Screening Mammography.

Although much deep learning research has focused on mammographic detection of breast cancer, relatively little attention has been paid to mammography triage for radiologist review. The purpose of this study was to develop and test DeepCAT, a deep learning system for mammography triage based on suspicion of cancer. Specifically, we evaluate DeepCAT's ability to provide two augmentations to radiologists: (1) discarding images unlikely to have cancer from radiologist review and (2) prioritization of images likely to contain cancer.

Dense bone islands in pediatric patients: a case series study.

Background: Dense Bone Islands (DBIs) are anatomic variants defined as radiopaque lesions consisting of hamartomatous cortical bone, often presenting as incidental radiographic findings. DBIs can also be known as idiopathic osteosclerosis, bone whorl, focal periapical osteopetrosis, bone scar and enostosis. We found a paucity of literature for management and reporting of this condition in children.

Unique Subtype of Microglia in Degenerative Thalamus After Cortical Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Stroke disrupts neuronal functions in both local and remotely connected regions, leading to network-wide deficits that can hinder recovery. The thalamus is particularly affected, with progressive development of neurodegeneration accompanied by inflammatory responses. However, the complexity of the involved inflammatory responses is poorly understood.

The effect of mental fatigue on the performance of Australian football specific skills amongst amateur athletes.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of induced mental fatigue on the performance of Australian football (AF) specific skills amongst amateur AF players.

Design: Randomised cross over trial.

Methods: Twenty-five amateur AF players performed a series of standardised tests from the Australian Football League (AFL) Draft Combine after completing a 30-min Stroop test (mental fatigue condition) or 30-min control condition.

Singlet fission in core-linked terrylenediimide dimers.

We have studied two regioisomeric terrylenediimide (TDI) dimers in which the 1-positions of two TDIs are linked via 1,3- or 1,4-phenylene spacers, mTDI and pTDI, respectively. The nature and the dynamics of the multiexciton state are tuned by altering the through-bond electronic couplings in the ground and excited states and by changing the solvent environment. Our results show that controlling the electronic coupling between the two chromophores by an appropriate choice of linker can result in independent triplet state formation, even though the initial correlated triplet pair state is confined to a dimer.

Probing the structure of nanodiscs using surface-induced dissociation mass spectrometry.

In the study of membrane proteins and antimicrobial peptides, nanodiscs have emerged as a valuable membrane mimetic to solubilze these molecules in a lipid bilayer. We present the structural characterization of nanodiscs using native mass spectrometry and surface-induced dissociation, which are powerful tools in structural biology.

The Impact of Sample Type on Vitamin D Quantification and Clinical Classification during Pregnancy.

Measurement of vitamin D status has significant use in clinical and research settings, including during pregnancy. We aimed to assess the agreement of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration, and its three analytes (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and Epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D (Epi-25(OH)D)), in plasma and serum samples collected during pregnancy, and to examine the proportion of women who change vitamin D status category based on sample type. Matching samples were collected from = 114 non-fasting women between 12-25 weeks gestation in a clinical trial in Newcastle, Australia.

Workplace Mental Health Awareness Training: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a workplace mental health awareness training program on help-seeking and mental health outcomes.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted comparing those who received standard training (N = 210) or standard training with a mental health awareness module (N = 208). Both groups were followed up for 3 years with the primary outcome being likelihood to seek help.

Benefits of digital breast tomosynthesis: A lesion-level analysis.

Objective: To compare outcome metrics of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) breast cancer screening with full-field digital mammogram (FFDM); specifically, to compare recall rates by the type of recalled finding, and to assess if screening with DBT versus FFDM changes biopsy recommendations and if the likelihood of malignancy varied by lesion type, if detected on DBT or FFDM screening mammogram.

Methods: The outcomes of 22,055 FFDM and DBT screening mammograms were retrospectively reviewed. The exams were performed at an academic institution between August 2015 and September 2016.

Impact of Medicaid expansion in Oregon on access to prenatal care.

Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has the potential to improve reproductive health by allowing low-income women access to healthcare before and early in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Oregon's Medicaid expansion on timely and adequate prenatal care. We included live births in Oregon from 2012 to 2015 and used individually-linked birth certificate and Medicaid eligibility data.

Effects of a Household Air Pollution Intervention with Liquefied Petroleum Gas on Cardiopulmonary Outcomes in Peru. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Approximately 40% of people worldwide are exposed to household air pollution (HAP) from the burning of biomass fuels. Previous efforts to document health benefits of HAP mitigation have been stymied by an inability to lower emissions to target levels. We sought to determine if a household air pollution intervention with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) improved cardiopulmonary health outcomes in adult women living in a resource-poor setting in Peru.

Delivery system can vary ventilatory parameters across multiple patients from a single source of mechanical ventilation.

Background: Current limitations in the supply of ventilators during the Covid19 pandemic have limited respiratory support for patients with respiratory failure. Split ventilation allows a single ventilator to be used for more than one patient but is not practicable due to requirements for matched patient settings, risks of cross-contamination, harmful interference between patients and the inability to individualize ventilator support parameters. We hypothesized that a system could be developed to circumvent these limitations.

Building a Digital Bridge to Support Patient-Centered Care Transitions From Hospital to Home for Older Adults With Complex Care Needs: Protocol for a Co-Design, Implementation, and Evaluation Study.

Background: Older adults with multimorbidity and complex care needs (CCN) are among those most likely to experience frequent care transitions between settings, particularly from hospital to home. Transition periods mark vulnerable moments in care for individuals with CCN. Poor communication and incomplete information transfer between clinicians and organizations involved in the transition from hospital to home can impede access to needed support and resources.

Mean Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Is a Sufficient Conventional Diffusion-weighted MRI Metric to Improve Breast MRI Diagnostic Performance: Results from the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group A6702 Diffusion Imaging Trial.

Background The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and American College of Radiology Imaging Network Cancer Research Group A6702 multicenter trial helped confirm the potential of diffusion-weighted MRI for improving differential diagnosis of suspicious breast abnormalities and reducing unnecessary biopsies. A prespecified secondary objective was to explore the relative value of different approaches for quantitative assessment of lesions at diffusion-weighted MRI. Purpose To determine whether alternate calculations of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can help further improve diagnostic performance versus mean ADC values alone for analysis of suspicious breast lesions at MRI.

A Risk Assessment Tool for Resumption of Research Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rationale: The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has suspended many non-COVID-19 related research activities. Where restarting research activities is permitted, investigators need to evaluate the risks and benefits of resuming data collection and adapt procedures to minimize risk.

Objectives: In the context of the multicountry Household Air Pollution Intervention (HAPIN) trial, we developed a framework to assess the risk of each trial activity and to guide protective measures.

Real-world efficacy of deep TMS for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Post-marketing data collected from twenty-two clinical sites.

Background: Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) with the H7-coil was FDA cleared for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in August 2018 based on multicenter sham-controlled studies. Here we look at the efficacy of dTMS for OCD in real world practices.

Methods: All dTMS clinics were asked to supply their data on treatment details and outcome measures.

Guidelines for reporting on CBCT scans.

The aim of a radiographic report is to provide an accurate interpretation of images to facilitate the diagnostic process, and when indicated prompt the appropriate management for the patient. It is part of the patient's clinical records. This paper describes the imaging chain involved in the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) workflow from referring to reporting on a CBCT scan.

Association of Medicaid Expansion With Access to Abortion Services for Women With Low Incomes in Oregon.

Background: The Affordable Care Act allowed states to expand Medicaid eligibility for women with low incomes before pregnancy. Women who experience an unintended pregnancy may encounter fewer delays in accessing abortion services if they are already enrolled in Medicaid. In states where the Medicaid program includes coverage for abortion services, Medicaid expansion may increase timely access to abortion services.

Dose effects in behavioural treatment of post-stroke aphasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Aphasia is a debilitating chronic acquired language disorder that impacts heavily on a person's life. Behavioural treatments aim to remediate language processing skills or to enhance communication between the person with aphasia and others, and a number of different treatments are efficacious. However, it is unclear how much of a particular treatment a person needs in order to optimise recovery of language and communication skills following stroke.

Co-Designing a Web-Based Decision Aid Tool for Employees Disclosure of Mental Health Conditions: A Participatory Study Design Using Employee and Organizational Preferences.

Background: Decisions of whether to disclose mental health conditions are extremely personal and require the consideration of multiple factors associated with the disclosure process (eg, weighing the risks and benefits). Decision aid tools help people make these complex decisions. Such an aid needs to be confidential, easily accessible, and easy to use with the potential to access the tool on multiple occasions.

Immunotherapeutic approaches for fungal infections.

Despite the availability of antifungal treatments, fungal infections are still causing morbidity all around the globe with unacceptably high mortality rates. A major driver for the rising incidence of serious fungal infections is due to a substantial increase in immunocompromised individuals with autoimmune diseases, cancers and transplants. Because of growing resistance in fungus to frontline triazole antifungals and the association of fungal disease with the immunocompromised host, adjunctive host-directed therapy is seen as a promising choice to improve patient outcomes.