Signals in Health Inequity: Examining Social Needs and Costs in a Large Health System.

Previous research has demonstrated that social determinants of health are drivers of medical utilization, cost, and health outcomes. In this study, we compared the mean annual total cost to deliver health services per patient by health-related social need (HRSN) status and total HRSNs using linear regression and ANOVA, respectively. Patients with ≥1 HRSN (n = 8409) yielded $1772 higher annual costs compared to patients without HRSNs (n = 34 775) (P < .

AC metrology applications of the Josephson effect.

The performance of programmable voltage signals that exploit the quantum behavior of superconducting Josephson junctions continues to improve and enhance measurements in metrology, communications, and quantum control. We review advances in pulse-driven digital synthesis techniques with Josephson-junction-based devices. Quantum-based synthesis of voltage waveforms has been demonstrated at frequencies up to 3 GHz and rms amplitudes up to 4 V.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity among older adults with cancer in a central Canadian province: Results from a survey study.

Background: Physical activity is important for individuals with cancer. Older adults with cancer (OACA) have been disproportionally vulnerable to both COVID-19 infection and its outcomes. This study investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions affected physical activity in OACA in one Canadian province.

Evaluating an addiction medicine unit in Sudbury, Ontario Canada: a mixed-methods study protocol.

Background: In response to the escalating global prevalence of substance use and the specific challenges faced in Northern Ontario, Canada, an Addiction Medicine Unit (AMU) was established at Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury. This protocol outlines the approach for a comprehensive evaluation of the AMU, with the aim of assessing its impact on patient outcomes, healthcare utilization, and staff perspectives.

Methods: We conducted a parallel mixed-method study that encompassed the analysis of single-center-level administrative health data and primary data collection, including a longitudinal observational study (target n = 1,200), pre- and post-admission quantitative interviews (target n = 100), and qualitative interviews (target n = 25 patients and n = 15 staff).

Global Learning for Health Equity: A Survey of Five Global Learning Sites in the United States.

Global learning is the practice of adopting and adapting global ideas to local challenges. To advance the field of global learning, we performed a case study of five communities that had implemented global health models to advance health equity in a U.S.

"I'd like more options!": Interviews to explore young people and family decision-making needs for pain management in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a common pediatric rheumatic condition and is associated with symptoms such as joint pain that can negatively impact health-related quality of life. To effectively manage pain in JIA, young people, their families, and health care providers (HCPs) should be supported to discuss pain management options and make a shared decision. However, pain is often under-recognized, and pain management discussions are not optimal.

[Current issues and options for improving influenza vaccination rates in rural areas].

Introduction: Despite the positive impact of vaccination on health, influenza vaccination rates worldwide remain low for certain population groups. In Quebec, vaccination rates among populations with chronic diseases remain below what is expected by public health. Since this situation is also noticeable in rural areas, it is necessary to reflect on the current issues associated with low vaccination rates in the rural population.

Targeting a highly repetitive genomic sequence for sensitive and specific molecular detection of the filarial parasite Mansonella perstans from human blood and mosquitoes.

Background: Mansonella perstans is among the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases and is believed to cause more human infections than any other filarial pathogen in Africa. Based largely upon assumptions of limited infection-associated morbidity, this pathogen remains understudied, and many basic questions pertaining to its pathogenicity, distribution, prevalence, and vector-host relationships remain unanswered. However, in recent years, mounting evidence of the potential for increased Mansonella infection-associated disease has sparked a renewal in research interest.

Integrated xenosurveillance of Loa loa, Wuchereria bancrofti, Mansonella perstans and Plasmodium falciparum using mosquito carcasses and faeces: A pilot study in Cameroon.

Background: Community presence of loiasis must be determined before mass drug administration programmes for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis can be implemented. However, taking human blood samples for loiasis surveillance is invasive and operationally challenging. A xenosurveillance approach based on the molecular screening of mosquitoes and their excreta/feces (E/F) for Loa loa DNA may provide a non-invasive method for detecting the community presence of loiasis.

Nb/-Si/Nb-junction Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizers for quantum information.

We demonstrate Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizers (JAWS) with increased operating temperature range for temperatures below 4 K. These JAWS synthesizers were fabricated with externally-shunted Nb/-Si/Nb junctions whose critical current exhibits improved temperature stability compared to the self-shunted Nb/NbSi/Nb junctions typically used. Vertical stud resistors made of 230 nm of PdAu were developed to provide the milliohm shunt resistance required for junction overdamping while maintaining a small footprint suitable for high-density series arrays embedded in a coplanar waveguide.

The Association Between Perceived Injustice and Opioid Craving in Patients With Chronic Pain: The Mediating Role of Daily Pain Intensity, Negative Affect, and Catastrophizing.

Objectives: The first objective of this study was to examine the association between perceived injustice and opioid craving in patients with chronic pain who are prescribed opioids. We also examined whether pain intensity, negative affect, or catastrophizing mediated this association.

Methods: In this longitudinal diary study, patients (n = 103) completed a questionnaire assessing perceived injustice and then completed daily measures of pain intensity, negative affect, catastrophizing, and opioid craving for 14 consecutive days.

Day-to-day opioid withdrawal symptoms, psychological distress, and opioid craving in patients with chronic pain prescribed opioid therapy.

Background: Research has shown that opioid craving is one of the strongest determinants of opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain. To date, however, little is known on the factors that contribute to opioid craving in these patients. It is possible that patients' physical dependence to opioids, manifested by opioid withdrawal symptoms in between daily opioid doses, contribute to opioid craving.

Patient and rheumatologist perspectives on tapering DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative study.

Objectives: To understand the perspectives of patients and rheumatologists for tapering DMARDs in RA.

Methods: Using semi-structured interview guides, we conducted individual interviews and focus groups with RA patients and rheumatologists, which were audiotaped and transcribed. We conducted a pragmatic thematic analysis to identify major themes, comparing and contrasting different views on DMARD tapering between patients and rheumatologists.

Single-Flux-Quantum Multiplier Circuits for Synthesizing Gigahertz Waveforms With Quantum-Based Accuracy.

We designed, simulated, and experimentally demonstrated components for a microwave-frequency digital-to-analog converter based on single flux quantum (SFQ) circuits and an amplifier based on superconducting-quantum-interference-device (SQUID) stacks. These are key components for a self-calibrated programmable waveform reference for communications metrology capable of synthesizing high-frequency signals with quantum-based output accuracy. The amplifier is an SFQ voltage multiplier circuit that consists of a network of SFQ-splitters and SQUID transformers that provides output signals consisting of quantized pulses.

Day-to-day hedonic and calming effects of opioids, opioid craving, and opioid misuse among patients with chronic pain prescribed long-term opioid therapy.

Concerns have been raised regarding the misuse of opioids among patients with chronic pain. Although a number of factors may contribute to opioid misuse, research has yet to examine if the hedonic and calming effects that can potentially accompany the use of opioids contribute to opioid misuse. The first objective of this study was to examine the degree to which the hedonic and calming effects of opioids contribute to opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain.

Digital Control of a Superconducting Qubit Using a Josephson Pulse Generator at 3 K.

Scaling of quantum computers to fault-tolerant levels relies critically on the integration of energy-efficient, stable, and reproducible qubit control and readout electronics. In comparison to traditional semiconductor-control electronics (TSCE) located at room temperature, the signals generated by rf sources based on Josephson-junctions (JJs) benefit from small device sizes, low power dissipation, intrinsic calibration, superior reproducibility, and insensitivity to ambient fluctuations. Previous experiments to colocate qubits and JJ-based control electronics have resulted in quasiparticle poisoning of the qubit, degrading the coherence and lifetime of the qubit.

Engineered Fn3 protein has targeted therapeutic effect on mesothelin-expressing cancer cells and increases tumor cell sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Mesothelin is a protein expressed at high levels on the cell surface in a variety of cancers, with limited expression in healthy tissues. The presence of mesothelin on tumor tissue correlates with increased invasion and metastasis, and resistance to traditional chemotherapies, through mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Molecules that specifically recognize mesothelin and interrupt its contribution to tumor progression have significant potential for targeted therapy and targeted drug delivery applications.

Protein-Polymer Conjugates Synthesized Using Water-Soluble Azlactone-Functionalized Polymers Enable Receptor-Specific Cellular Uptake toward Targeted Drug Delivery.

Conjugation of proteins to drug-loaded polymeric structures is an attractive strategy for facilitating target-specific drug delivery for a variety of clinical needs. Polymers currently available for conjugation to proteins generally have limited chemical versatility for subsequent drug loading. Many polymers that do have chemical functionality useful for drug loading are often insoluble in water, making it difficult to synthesize functional protein-polymer conjugates for targeted drug delivery.

Fn3 proteins engineered to recognize tumor biomarker mesothelin internalize upon binding.

Mesothelin is a cell surface protein that is overexpressed in numerous cancers, including breast, ovarian, lung, liver, and pancreatic tumors. Aberrant expression of mesothelin has been shown to promote tumor progression and metastasis through interaction with established tumor biomarker CA125. Therefore, molecules that specifically bind to mesothelin have potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Tunable resonant and nonresonant interactions between a phase qubit and LC resonator.

We use a flux-biased radio frequency superconducting quantum interference device (rf SQUID) with an embedded flux-biased direct current SQUID to generate strong resonant and nonresonant tunable interactions between a phase qubit and a lumped-element resonator. The rf SQUID creates a tunable magnetic susceptibility between the qubit and resonator providing resonant coupling strengths from zero to near the ultrastrong coupling regime. By modulating the magnetic susceptibility, nonresonant parametric coupling achieves rates >100  MHz.

Chronic disease and disability among Iraqi populations displaced in Jordan and Syria.

The Iraq conflict resulted in the largest displacement in the Middle East since the Palestinian crisis, and provision of health services to the displaced population presents a critical challenge. The study aimed to provide information on chronic medical conditions and disability to inform humanitarian assistance planning. Nationally representative cross-sectional surveys of Iraqi populations displaced in Jordan and Syria were conducted in late 2008 and early 2009.