Science tells us that portable air filters reduce infection risk. It's time for public health authorities to make this clear.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian public health advisors and politicians have shared mixed messages about the utility of portable air filters (PAFs) for mitigating the transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Some public health advisors and decision-makers have also suggested that PAFs are cumbersome or require expert advice. We take this opportunity to review evidence and address myths about PAFs.

Evaluation of a next generation sequencing assay for Hepatitis B antiviral drug resistance on the oxford nanopore system.

Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral resistance (AVR) testing is a highly sensitive diagnostic method, able to detect low-level mutant subpopulations. Our clinical virology laboratory previously transitioned from DNA hybridization (INNO-LiPA) to NGS, initially with the GS Junior System and subsequently the MiSeq. The Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) sequencing system was evaluated for HBV resistance testing, with regards to sequencing accuracy and turn-around time.

Critical care nurses' prioritisation of patient care, including delirium prevention and management strategies: A mixed-method study.

Background: Delirium is a common issue in critical care, yet its prevention and management strategies are often inconsistent. Understanding the factors that lead to the omission or delay in delirium-related care by critical care nurses is essential for enhancing patient outcomes.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the specific delirium-related prevention and management strategies that are frequently missed or delayed by critical care nurses.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of the Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home After Stroke instrument: a methodological study.

Background: The successful transition of stroke patients from hospital to home relies on the preparedness of caregivers. Assessing this preparedness is crucial, but existing tools need adaptation and validation for Iranian caregivers.

Objectives: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Persian version of the "Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home After Stroke" (PATH-s) for use among Iranian caregivers of stroke survivors.

Development of the Whole Day Matters Toolkit for Primary Care: a consensus-building study to mobilize national public health guidelines in practice.

Introduction: Strategic knowledge mobilization efforts are needed to enhance uptake and use of the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (24HMG), which describe optimal amounts of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep each day for overall health. The Whole Day Matters Toolkit for Primary Care is an evidence-informed resource to help primary care providers (PCPs) disseminate the 24HMGs. The purpose of this study was to describe gaining consensus on toolkit components through iterative revisions to improve its utility in preparation for the September 2022 launch, and to summarize early dissemination efforts.

Transtracheal ultrasound for identifying endotracheal intubation in adults.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of transtracheal ultrasound for detecting endotracheal intubation in adult patients. Secondary objectives Secondary objectives include assessing the diagnostic accuracy of transtracheal ultrasound amongst the following subgroups: setting (e.

Accounting for the role of the gastro-intestinal tract in the ammonia and urea-N dynamics of freshwater rainbow trout on long-term satiation feeding.

The contribution of the gut to the ingestion, production, absorption, and excretion of the extra ammonia and urea-N associated with feeding ("exogenous" fraction) has received limited prior attention. Analysis of commercial pellet food revealed appreciable concentrations of ammonia and urea-N. Long term satiation-feeding increased whole trout ammonia and urea-N excretion rates by 2.

Metal Mobilization from Thawing Permafrost Is an Emergent Risk to Water Resources.

Metals are ubiquitous in Earth's Critical Zone and play key roles in ecosystem function, human health, and water security. They are essential nutrients at low concentrations, yet some metals are toxic at a high dose. Permafrost thaw substantially alters all the physical and chemical processes governing metal mobility, including water movement and solute transport and (bio)geochemical interactions involving water, organic matter, minerals, and microbes.

Gravity-Driven Membrane Filtration with Passive Hydraulic Fouling Control for Drinking Water Treatment: Demonstration of Long-Term Performance at Full Scale.

The present study evaluated the performance of a full-scale gravity-driven membrane filtration system with passive hydraulic fouling control (PGDMF) for drinking water treatment in a small community over a 3-year period. The PGDMF system consistently met the design flow and regulated water quality/performance parameters (i.e.

Augmenting efficient real-time surgical instrument segmentation in video with point tracking and Segment Anything.

The Segment Anything model (SAM) is a powerful vision foundation model that is revolutionizing the traditional paradigm of segmentation. Despite this, a reliance on prompting each frame and large computational cost limit its usage in robotically assisted surgery. Applications, such as augmented reality guidance, require little user intervention along with efficient inference to be usable clinically.

Brain aging rejuvenation factors in adults with genetic and sporadic neurodegenerative disease.

The largest risk factor for dementia is age. Heterochronic blood exchange studies have uncovered age-related blood factors that demonstrate 'pro-aging' or 'pro-youthful' effects on the mouse brain. The clinical relevance and combined effects of these factors for humans is unclear.

Malnutrition in Spine Oncology: Where Are We and What Are We Measuring?

Study Design: Scoping review.

Objective: To identify which markers are used as surrogates for malnutrition in metastatic spine disease and which are the most studied outcomes associated with it.

Methods: A scoping review was performed by searching the PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases up to July 2022.

Considering veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a first-line strategy for rewarming in accidental hypothermia complicated by cardiac arrest - a case series.

Severe accidental hypothermia can lead to cardiac arrest. The most efficient method of resuscitating and warming is by ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation). While the convention is to use VA ECMO (Veno Arterial ECMO), using VV ECMO (Veno Venous ECMO) in which the blood is returned directly into the right ventricle could be an alternative and lead to conversion to life sustaining cardiac rhythm.

Barriers to and enablers of modifying diet after metabolic bariatric surgery: A systematic review of published literature.

This is a qualitative systematic review in which we investigated barriers and enablers influencing dietary behavior change after metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS). Database searches retrieved publications reporting perceived factors influencing dietary behavior change post-MBS. Data (quotes, survey results, interpretative summaries) were extracted and analyzed using combined deductive and inductive thematic analyses.

Daratumumab plus lenalidomide/dexamethasone in untreated multiple myeloma: analysis of key subgroups of the MAIA study.

In the MAIA study (median follow-up, 56.2 months), daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) alone in transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). In this post hoc analysis of clinically important subgroups in MAIA (median follow-up, 64.

Illuminating the multidimensional contributions of small-scale fisheries.

Sustainable development aspires to "leave no one behind". Even so, limited attention has been paid to small-scale fisheries (SSF) and their importance in eradicating poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Through a collaborative and multidimensional data-driven approach, we have estimated that SSF provide at least 40% (37.

An ML-Enhanced Laser-Based Methane Slip Sensor Using Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy.

Natural gas (NG) is a promising alternative to diesel for sustainable transport, potentially reducing GHG and air quality emissions significantly. However, the GHG benefits hinge on managing methane slip, the unburned methane in the exhaust of NG engines, which carries a significant global warming potential. The CH slip from NG engines is highly dependent on engine type and operation, and effective greenhouse gas emission mitigation requires that the actual operation of real-world engines is monitored.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Undergoing 3 Aortic Valve Interventions: The THIRD Multicenter Registry.

Background: Lifetime treatment of aortic valve disease is a matter of increasing debate. Although the risks of a second aortic valve intervention are recognized, little attention has been given to the challenges of a third.

Objectives: This study delves into the clinical characteristics, indications, and outcomes of patients undergoing 3 aortic valve interventions.

Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa: An Overview.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurring inflammatory skin disease that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients.[1] HS is more common in adults and adolescents, although true incidence rates may be underestimated due to a lack of earlier recognition of HS in children.[2] Pediatric HS is a challenging clinical entity to diagnose and manage.

3D genomic features across >50 diverse cell types reveal insights into the genomic architecture of childhood obesity.

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide, along with the associated common comorbidities of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life. Motivated by evidence for a strong genetic component, our prior genome-wide association study (GWAS) efforts for childhood obesity revealed 19 independent signals for the trait; however, the mechanism of action of these loci remains to be elucidated. To molecularly characterize these childhood obesity loci, we sought to determine the underlying causal variants and the corresponding effector genes within diverse cellular contexts.

Near-Infrared Photothermal Conversion by Isocorrole and Phlorin Derivatives.

Photothermal therapy is a promising strategy for treating tumors and bacterial infections by using light irradiation to locally heat tissues. Metalloisoporphyrinoid materials have been investigated for their use as singlet oxygen photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy but remain underexplored as photothermal agents. Recently, two metallophlorin and two metalloisocorrole materials were found to have strong near-infrared absorbance, with low photoluminescent quantum yields, suggesting high rates of nonradiative decay.

Are adverse childhood experiences scores associated with heroism or villainy? A quantitative observational study of Marvel and DC Cinematic Universe characters.

Many superhero and villain stories include trauma, which could influence how the public perceives the impact of trauma in their own lives. Our aim was to assess whether total Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scores were associated with heroism or villainy among Marvel and DC Characters. We watched 33 films, with a total runtime of 77 hours and 5 minutes.

Are men's gender equality beliefs associated with self-reported intimate partner violence perpetration? A state-level analysis of California men.

Objectives: To assess the association between gender equality beliefs and self-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among California men.

Methods: We analyzed men's data (N = 3609) from three waves (2021, 2022, and 2023) of cross-sectional data from a statewide sample of California adults. We assessed gender equality beliefs using a three-item measure adapted from the World Values Survey, with higher scores representing more gender unequal beliefs (e.

Natural language processing to evaluate texting conversations between patients and healthcare providers during COVID-19 Home-Based Care in Rwanda at scale.

Community isolation of patients with communicable infectious diseases limits spread of pathogens but our understanding of isolated patients' needs and challenges is incomplete. Rwanda deployed a digital health service nationally to assist public health clinicians to remotely monitor and support SARS-CoV-2 cases via their mobile phones using daily interactive short message service (SMS) check-ins. We aimed to assess the texting patterns and communicated topics to better understand patient experiences.

Hear it here: Built environments predict ratings and descriptions of ambiguous sounds.

The built environments we move through are a filter for the stimuli we experience. If we are in a darker or a lighter room or space, a neutrally valenced sound could be perceived as more unpleasant or more pleasant. Past research suggests a role for the layout and lighting of a space in impacting how stimuli are rated, especially on bipolar valence scales.