Publications by authors named "R R French"

Introduction: Community-based overdose prevention sites (OPS) are recognized for reducing overdose deaths and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C among people who use drugs (PWUD). While some hospitals in Europe and Canada have successfully integrated OPS into their facilities, such integration remains illegal in the United States. This study explores the feasibility and acceptability of implementing an OPS at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), situated in an urban area with high rates of overdose.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The ability of viruses to emerge in new species is influenced by aspects of host biology and ecology, with some taxa harbouring a high diversity and abundance of viruses. However, how these factors shape virus diversity at the ecosystem scale is often unclear. To better understand the pattern and determinants of viral diversity within an ecosystem, and to describe the novel avian viruses infecting an individual avian community, we performed a metagenomic snapshot of the virome from the entire avian community on remote Pukenui/Anchor Island in Aotearoa New Zealand.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Understanding subsurface temperature variations is crucial for assessing material degradation in underground structures. This study maps subsurface temperatures across the contiguous United States for depths from 50 to 3500 m, comparing linear interpolation, gradient boosting (LightGBM), neural networks, and a novel hybrid approach combining linear interpolation with LightGBM. Results reveal heterogeneous temperature patterns both horizontally and vertically.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • There are many myths and misconceptions about hormonal contraception, often spread through social media, which are leading people to avoid these methods.
  • These myths include concerns about physical and mental health effects, impacts on sexuality, infertility fears, perceptions of unnaturalness, menstruation issues, and safety worries.
  • While some of these concerns have some basis in evidence, the overall argument is that for most people, the benefits of hormonal contraception far exceed the potential drawbacks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Most surveys examining health professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practices around abortion have used convenience samples and have targeted doctors. Our goal in the SACHA Study, drawing on evidence-based strategies to maximise response rates, was to achieve a representative sample of a wider range of health professionals, working in general practice, maternity services, pharmacies, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) clinics and specialist abortion services in Britain, to explore the knowledge, attitudes and experience of abortion care and views on future models of delivery.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of midwives, doctors, nurses and pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales was undertaken between November, 2021 and July, 2022.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF