Phenotypic Differences Between the Epidemic Strains of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Serotype Indiana 98COE and IN0919WYB2 Using an In-Vivo Pig () Model.

During the past 25 years, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has produced multiple outbreaks in the US, resulting in the emergence of different viral lineages. Currently, very little is known about the pathogenesis of many of these lineages, thus limiting our understanding of the potential biological factors favoring each lineage in these outbreaks. In this study, we aimed to determine the potential phenotypic differences between two VSV Indiana (VSIV) serotype epidemic strains using a pig model.

Understanding Perceptions of Hepatitis C and Its Management Among People with Experience of Incarceration in Quebec, Canada: A Qualitative Study Guided by the Common Sense Self-Regulation Model.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) disproportionately affects certain sub-populations, including people with experience of incarceration (PWEI). Little is known about how perceptions of HCV and treatment have changed despite simplifications in testing and treatment in carceral settings. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with people living with or having a history of HCV infection released from Quebec provincial prison.

Evolutionary Relationships of Unclassified Coronaviruses in Canadian Bat Species.

Bats are recognized as natural reservoirs for an array of diverse viruses, particularly coronaviruses, which have been linked to major human diseases like SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. These viruses are believed to have originated in bats, highlighting their role in virus ecology and evolution. Our study focuses on the molecular characterization of bat-derived coronaviruses (CoVs) in Canada.

miR-24-3p Is Antiviral Against SARS-CoV-2 by Downregulating Critical Host Entry Factors.

Despite all the progress in treating SARS-CoV-2, escape mutants to current therapies remain a constant concern. Promising alternative treatments for current and future coronaviruses are those that limit escape mutants by inhibiting multiple pathogenic targets, analogous to the current strategies for treating HCV and HIV. With increasing popularity and ease of manufacturing of RNA technologies for vaccines and drugs, therapeutic microRNAs represent a promising option.

Reported Adverse Events Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations in the Canadian Province of Alberta and Associated Risk Factors: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

: Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) vaccines represent a significant milestone in the fight against coronavirus disease. Ongoing post-marketing surveillance and research are crucial for ensuring vaccine safety and effectiveness, aiding public health planning. : Our retrospective cohort study included Albertans five years and older and vaccinated with at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine between 14 December 2020 and 30 April 2022.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Pediatric Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Patients.

Vaccine hesitancy among immunocompromised patients is complex and not well understood. This study aimed to determine the rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients and to understand associated factors. : Parents of patients (≤18 years) with cancer or post-BMT completed the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines Survey.

Addressing Barriers Newcomer Families Face When Obtaining Routine Childhood Vaccines in Alberta, Canada.

: As the newcomer population in Canada continues to grow, we aimed to collaborate with newcomer families arriving in an urban center in Alberta, Canada to identify strategies to overcome identified barriers newcomers face in obtaining routine childhood vaccines (RCVs). : We recruited newcomers living in Calgary, Alberta to participate in a workshop utilizing the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to develop solutions addressing barriers to obtaining RCVs. Ranking exercises helped identify the top-proposed interventions based on perceived impact and feasibility for implementation.

The Impact of HIV on B Cell Compartment and Its Implications for COVID-19 Vaccinations in People with HIV.

HIV causes intense polyclonal activation of B cells, resulting in increased numbers of spontaneously antibody-secreting cells in the circulation and hypergammaglobulinemia. It is accompanied by significant perturbations in various B cell subsets, such as increased frequencies of immature/transitional B cells, activated memory B cells, atypical memory B cells, short-lived plasmablasts and regulatory B cells, as well as by decreased frequencies of resting memory and resting naïve B cells. Furthermore, both memory and antigen-inexperienced naïve B cells show exhausted and immune-senescent phenotypes.

Protein Expression Platforms and the Challenges of Viral Antigen Production.

Several protein expression platforms exist for a wide variety of biopharmaceutical needs. A substantial proportion of research and development into protein expression platforms and their optimization since the mid-1900s is a result of the production of viral antigens for use in subunit vaccine research. This review discusses the seven most popular forms of expression systems used in the past decade-bacterial, insect, mammalian, yeast, algal, plant and cell-free systems-in terms of advantages, uses and limitations for viral antigen production in the context of subunit vaccine research.

Bridging the Vaccination Equity Gap: A Community-Driven Approach to Reduce Vaccine Inequities in Polio High-Risk Areas of Pakistan.

Immunization saves millions of lives, and globally, vaccines have significantly contributed to reducing mortality and morbidity due to more than 20 life-threatening illnesses. However, there are considerable disparities in vaccination coverage among countries and within populations. This study evaluates the reduction in disparities in vaccination coverage across various socio-economic groups by adopting an integrated community-engagement approach combined with maternal and child health services through mobile health camps.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A WAidid Consensus Document on New Preventive Options.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections, particularly affecting young infants, older adults, and individuals with comorbidities. : This document, developed as a consensus by an international group of experts affiliated with the World Association of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid), focuses on recent advancements in RSV prevention, highlighting the introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and vaccines. : Historically, RSV treatment options were limited to supportive care and the monoclonal antibody palivizumab, which required multiple doses.

Real-Time Freezing of Gait Prediction and Detection in Parkinson's Disease.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a walking disturbance that can lead to postural instability, falling, and decreased mobility in people with Parkinson's disease. This research used machine learning to predict and detect FOG episodes from plantar-pressure data and compared the performance of decision tree ensemble classifiers when trained on three different datasets. Dataset 1 ( = 11) was collected in a previous study.

UAV Trajectory Control and Power Optimization for Low-Latency C-V2X Communications in a Federated Learning Environment.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled vehicular communications in the sixth generation (6G) are characterized by line-of-sight (LoS) and dynamically varying channel conditions. However, the presence of obstacles in the LoS path leads to shadowed fading environments. In UAV-assisted cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communication, vehicle and UAV mobility and shadowing adversely impact latency and throughput.

High-Performance CP Magneto-Electric Dipole Antenna Fed by Printed Ridge Gap Waveguide at Millimeter-Wave.

This paper presents a high-performance circularly polarized (CP) magneto-electric (ME) dipole antenna optimized for wideband millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequencies, specifically targeting advancements in 5G and 6G technologies. The CP antenna is excited through a transverse slot in a printed ridge gap waveguide (PRGW), which operates in a quasi-transverse electromagnetic (Q-TEM) mode. Fabricated on Rogers RT 3003 substrate, selected for its low-loss and cost-effective properties at high frequencies, the design significantly enhances both impedance and axial ratio (AR) bandwidths.

Game-Theoretic Motion Planning with Perception Uncertainty and Right-of-Way Constraints.

This paper addresses two challenges in AV motion planning: adherence to right-of-way and handling uncertainties, using two game-theoretic frameworks, namely Stackelberg and Nash Bayesian (Bayesian). By modeling the interactions between road users as a hierarchical relationship, the proposed approach enables the AV to strategically optimize its trajectory while considering the actions and priorities of other road users. Additionally, the Bayesian equilibrium aspect of the framework incorporates probabilistic beliefs and updates them based on sensor measurements, allowing the AV to make informed decisions in the presence of uncertainty in the sensory system.

Optimized Synthetic Correlated Diffusion Imaging for Improving Breast Cancer Tumor Delineation.

Breast cancer is a significant cause of death from cancer in women globally, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic imaging to enhance patient outcomes. Accurate tumor identification is essential for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring, emphasizing the importance of advanced imaging technologies that provide detailed views of tumor characteristics and disease. Recently, a new imaging modality named synthetic correlated diffusion imaging (CDI) has been showing promise for enhanced prostate cancer delineation when compared to existing MRI imaging modalities.

Influence of Sudden Changes in Foot Strikes on Loading Rate Variability in Runners.

Foot strike patterns influence vertical loading rates during running. Running retraining interventions often include switching to a new foot strike pattern. Sudden changes in the foot strike pattern may be uncomfortable and may lead to higher step-to-step variability.

Multivariate Modelling and Prediction of High-Frequency Sensor-Based Cerebral Physiologic Signals: Narrative Review of Machine Learning Methodologies.

Monitoring cerebral oxygenation and metabolism, using a combination of invasive and non-invasive sensors, is vital due to frequent disruptions in hemodynamic regulation across various diseases. These sensors generate continuous high-frequency data streams, including intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), providing real-time insights into cerebral function. Analyzing these signals is crucial for understanding complex brain processes, identifying subtle patterns, and detecting anomalies.

A Comprehensive Study of Recent Path-Planning Techniques in Dynamic Environments for Autonomous Robots.

This paper presents a comprehensive review of path planning in dynamic environments. This review covers the entire process, starting from obstacle detection techniques, through path-planning strategies, and also extending to formation control and communication styles. The review discusses the key trends, challenges, and gaps in current methods to emphasize the need for more efficient and robust algorithms that can handle complex and unpredictable dynamic environments.

Light-Emitting Diode Array with Optical Linear Detector Enables High-Throughput Differential Single-Cell Dielectrophoretic Analysis.

This paper presents a lens-free imaging approach utilizing an array of light sources, capable of measuring the dielectric properties of many particles simultaneously. This method employs coplanar electrodes to induce velocity changes in flowing particles through dielectrophoretic forces, allowing the inference of individual particle properties from differential velocity changes. Both positive and negative forces are detectable.

Effectiveness of a Telerehabilitation-Based Exercise Program in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Non-specific chronic neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder with a significant impact on individuals' quality of life. The lack of consensus on effective therapeutic management complicates the establishment of standardized treatment protocols. Home exercise programs have yielded positive results.

Advanced Monocular Outdoor Pose Estimation in Autonomous Systems: Leveraging Optical Flow, Depth Estimation, and Semantic Segmentation with Dynamic Object Removal.

Autonomous technologies have revolutionized transportation, military operations, and space exploration, necessitating precise localization in environments where traditional GPS-based systems are unreliable or unavailable. While widespread for outdoor localization, GPS systems face limitations in obstructed environments such as dense urban areas, forests, and indoor spaces. Moreover, GPS reliance introduces vulnerabilities to signal disruptions, which can lead to significant operational failures.

XAI GNSS-A Comprehensive Study on Signal Quality Assessment of GNSS Disruptions Using Explainable AI Technique.

The hindering of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signal reception by jamming and spoofing attacks degrades the signal quality. Careful attention needs to be paid when post-processing the signal under these circumstances before feeding the signal into the GNSS receiver's post-processing stage. The identification of the time domain statistical attributes and the spectral domain characteristics play a vital role in analyzing the behaviour of the signal characteristics under various kinds of jamming attacks, spoofing attacks, and multipath scenarios.

Are Junior Tennis Players Less Exposed to Shocks and Vibrations than Adults? A Pilot Study.

This study investigated muscle activation, shocks, and vibrations of the upper extremities during tennis serves between junior and adult tennis players. Thirty-five well-trained tennis players (15 juniors and 20 adults) performed 10 maximal successful tennis serves. Two triaxial accelerometers recorded the shock and vibration on the racket and the hand on the dominant side.

A 6.7 μW Low-Noise, Compact PLL with an Input MEMS-Based Reference Oscillator Featuring a High-Resolution Dead/Blind Zone-Free PFD.

This article reports a 110.2 MHz ultra-low-power phase-locked loop (PLL) for MEMS timing/frequency reference oscillator applications. It utilizes a 6.