Xenon purity analysis for EXO-200 via mass spectrometry Dobi, A.; Hall, C.; Slutsky, S. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
05/2012, Letnik:
675
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We describe purity measurements of the natural and enriched xenon stockpiles used by the EXO-200 double beta decay experiment based on a mass spectrometry technique. The sensitivity of the ...spectrometer is enhanced by several orders of magnitude by the presence of a liquid nitrogen cold trap, and many impurity species of interest can be detected at the level of one part-per-billion or better. We have used the technique to screen the EXO-200 xenon before, during, and after its use in our detector, and these measurements have proven useful. This is the first application of the cold trap mass spectrometry technique to an operating physics experiment.
Cancer-related fatigue and muscle wasting have received significant attention over the last few decades with the goal of establishing interventions that can improve cancer patient life quality and ...survival. Increased physical activity has shown to reduce cancer-associated fatigue and has been proposed as a promising therapeutic to attenuate cancer-induced wasting. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of how physical activity affects the compositional and functional changes that initiate muscle wasting. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of wheel exercise on body composition and functional indices of cancer cachexia before the development of significant wasting.
Thirteen-week-old male Apc (MIN) and C57BL/6 (B6) mice were given free wheel access (W) or a locked wheel (Sed) for 5 wk.
Wheel activity was reduced in the MIN compared with B6; however, wheel access increased complex II expression in isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria regardless of genotype. Wheel access had no effect on tumor burden or plasma interleukin-6 in the MIN. MIN-W increased body weight and lean mass compared with MIN-Sed, and there was a direct correlation between wheel distance and lean mass change. MIN-W increased grip strength and treadmill time to fatigue compared with MIN-Sed. Within MIN-W mice, skeletal muscle fatigability was only improved in high runners (>60 min·d).
Our results suggest that there were therapeutic benefits of increased activity related to body composition, behavior, and whole-body function that were not dependent on exercise duration; however, there was an exercise threshold needed to improve skeletal muscle fatigability in tumor-bearing mice. Interestingly, wheel access was able to improve compositional and functional outcomes without mitigating tumor number or size.
A xenon gas purity monitor for EXO Dobi, A.; Hall, C.; Herrin, S. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
12/2011, Letnik:
659, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We discuss the design, operation, and calibration of two versions of a xenon gas purity monitor (GPM) developed for the EXO double beta decay program. The devices are sensitive to concentrations of ...oxygen well below 1ppb at an ambient gas pressure of one atmosphere or more. The theory of operation of the GPM is discussed along with the interactions of oxygen and other impurities with the GPM's tungsten filament. Lab tests and experiences in commissioning the EXO-200 double beta decay experiment are described. These devices can also be used on other noble gases.
Men who use the Internet to seek sex with other men (MISM) are increasingly using the Internet to find sexual health information and to seek sexual partners, with some research suggesting HIV ...transmission is associated with sexual partnering online. Aiming to "meet men where they are at," some AIDS service organizations (ASOs) deliver online outreach services via sociosexual Internet sites and mobile apps.
To investigate MISM's experiences and self-perceived impacts of online outreach.
From December 2013 to January 2014, MISM aged 16 years or older were recruited from Internet sites, mobile apps, and ASOs across Ontario to complete a 15-minute anonymous online questionnaire regarding their experience of online outreach. Demographic factors associated with encountering online outreach were assessed using backward-stepwise multivariable logistic regression (P<.05 was considered significant).
Of 1830 MISM who completed the survey, 8.25% (151/1830) reported direct experience with online outreach services. Encountering online outreach was more likely for Aboriginal versus white MISM, MISM from Toronto compared with MISM from either Eastern or Southwestern Ontario, and MISM receiving any social assistance. MISM who experienced online outreach felt the service provider was friendly (130/141, 92.2%), easy to understand (122/140, 87.1%), helpful (115/139, 82.7%), prompt (107/143, 74.8%), and knowledgeable (92/134, 68.7%); half reported they received a useful referral (49/98, 50%). Few MISM felt the interaction was annoying (13/141, 9.2%) or confusing (18/142, 12.7%). As a result of their last online outreach encounter, MISM reported the following: better understanding of (88/147, 59.9%) and comfort with (75/147, 51.0%) their level of sexual risk; increased knowledge (71/147, 48.3%); and feeling less anxious (51/147, 34.7%), better connected (46/147, 31.3%), and more empowered (40/147, 27.2%). Behaviorally, they reported using condoms more frequently (48/147, 32.7%) and effectively (35/147, 23.8%); getting tested for HIV (43/125, 34.4%) or STIs (42/147, 28.6%); asking for their partners' HIV statuses (37/147, 25.2%); and serosorting (26/147, 17.7%). Few MISM reported no changes (15/147, 10.2%) and most would use these services again (98/117, 83.8%). Most MISM who did not use online outreach said they did not need these services (1074/1559, 68.89%) or were unaware of them (496/1559, 31.82%).
This is the first online outreach evaluation study of MISM in Canada. Online outreach services are a relatively new and underdeveloped area of intervention, but are a promising health promotion strategy to provide service referrals and engage diverse groups of MISM in sexual health education.
Summary South Africa is one of the few developing countries with a national confidential inquiry into maternal deaths. 164 health facilities obtain audit data for stillbirths and neonatal deaths, and ...a new audit network does so for child deaths. Three separate reports have been published, providing valuable information about avoidable causes of death for mothers, babies, and children. These reports make health-system recommendations, many of which overlap and are intertwined with the scarcity of progress in addressing HIV/AIDS. The leaders of these three reports have united to prioritise actions to save the lives of South Africa's mothers, babies, and children. The country is off-track for the health-related Millennium Development Goals. Mortality in children younger than 5 years has increased, whereas maternal and neonatal mortality remain constant. This situation indicates the challenge of strengthening the health system because of high inequity and HIV/AIDS. Coverage of services is fairly high, but addressing the gaps in quality and equity is essential to increasing the number of lives saved. Consistent leadership and accountability to address crosscutting health system and equity issues, and to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, would save tens of thousands of lives every year. Audit is powerful, but only if the data lead to action.
Abstract
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we have witnessed profound health inequities suffered by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). These manifested as ...differential access to testing early in the pandemic, rates of severe disease and death 2–3 times higher than white Americans, and, now, significantly lower vaccine uptake compared with their share of the population affected by COVID-19. This article explores the impact of these COVID-19 inequities (and the underlying cause, structural racism) on vaccine acceptance in BIPOC populations, ways to establish trustworthiness of healthcare institutions, increase vaccine access for BIPOC communities, and inspire confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, chronic sleep-related breathing disorder that affects approximately 12% of the US adult population. Greater public awareness of OSA is necessary to decrease ...the number of people with undiagnosed or untreated OSA and reduce the negative health consequences of unrecognized OSA. In 2021, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine initiated the "Count on Sleep" project in partnership with key stakeholders with the objective of raising the awareness of OSA among the public, health care providers, and public health officials. Four workgroups implemented strategies and completed tasks focused on increasing OSA awareness in their targeted areas to address the objectives of the project including (1) Public Awareness and Communications, (2) Provider Education, (3) Tool Development and Surveillance, and (4) a Strategic Planning workgroup that coordinated efforts across the project. Over the first 2 years, workgroups made substantial progress toward project goals including holding "listening sessions" with representatives of communities disproportionately affected by OSA and its consequences, developing resources for primary care providers that can be easily accessed and used in practice, and developing a brief survey for use in estimating and tracking OSA risk across the population. Over the first 2 project years, workgroups made significant progress in advancing efforts to increase awareness of OSA in US communities. The third year of the project will focus on dissemination of campaign materials and resources for all targeted groups, including the public, health care professionals, and public health professionals.
Martin JL, Rowley J, Goel N, et al. "Count on Sleep": an OSA awareness project update.
2024;20(2):303-307.
Abstract
Background
In people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), the World Health Organization–recommended tuberculosis (TB) 4-symptom screen (W4SS) targeting those who need molecular rapid ...testing may be suboptimal. We assessed the performance of different TB screening approaches in severely immunosuppressed PWH enrolled in the guided-treatment group of the STATIS trial (NCT02057796).
Methods
Ambulatory PWH with no overt evidence of TB and CD4 count <100 cells/µL were screened for TB prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation with W4SS, chest radiograph (CXR), urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) test, and sputum Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert). Correctly and wrongly identified cases by screening approaches were assessed overall and by CD4 count threshold (≤50 and 51–99 cells/µL).
Results
Of 525 enrolled participants (median CD4 count, 28 cells/µL), 48 (9.9%) were diagnosed with TB at enrollment. Among participants with a negative W4SS, 16% had either a positive Xpert, a CXR suggestive of TB, or a positive urine LAM test. The combination of sputum Xpert and urine LAM test was associated with the highest proportion of participants correctly identified as TB (95.8%) and non-TB cases (95.4%), with proportions equally high among participants with CD4 counts above or below 50 cells/µL. Restricting the use of sputum Xpert, urine LAM test, or CXR to participants with a positive W4SS reduced the proportion of wrongly and correctly identified cases.
Conclusions
There is a clear benefit to perform both sputum Xpert and urine LAM tests as TB screening in all severely immunosuppressed PWH prior to ART initiation, not only in those with a positive W4SS.
Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02057796.
In severely immunosuppressed people with HIV, there is a clear benefit to systematically perform sputum Xpert and urine lipoarabinomannan tests prior to antiretroviral initiation as tuberculosis screening tests, not only in those with a positive World Health Organization 4-symptom screen.
Abstract
On 29 June 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that race-conscious consideration for college admission is unconstitutional. We discuss the consequences of this ruling on the ...delivery of equitable care and health system readiness to combat current and emerging pandemics. We propose strategies to mitigate the negative impact of this ruling on diversifying the infectious disease (ID) workforce.
In this viewpoint, we discuss the consequences of the SCOTUS ruling ending race-conscious consideration for college admission, on diversifying the infectious disease workforce and combatting current and future pandemics. We provide strategies to mitigate this potential negative impact.
Rationale
Activity levels in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have correlated with surrogate markers of disease severity. It is not known whether physical activity measures are ...useful in monitoring patients with PAH.
Objectives
This pilot study aimed to evaluate whether change in physical activity measured by an accelerometer correlates with changes in six-minute walk distance (6MWD), echocardiographic parameters, NT-proBNP, or health-related quality-of-life measures (HRQOL).
Methods
The study design was a prospective, observational study in subjects with prevalent PAH. Subjects wore a wrist-worn accelerometer (Fitbit Charge HR®) between two outpatient visits. Daily step count and activity levels were recorded, and the change over time was correlated with changes in 6MWD, echocardiographic parameters, HRQOL, and NT-proBNP.
Measurements and Main Results
30 subjects were enrolled, of which 20 patients had adequate accelerometer data to be analyzed over the study duration. The mean duration of follow-up was 136.4 ( ± 47.3) days. The change in daily step count correlated with a change in 6MWD (
r
0.43,
p
0.05). Changes in duration spent in moderately active (
r
0.52,
p
0.02), lightly active (
r
0.48,
p
0.05), and sedentary activity levels (
r
− 0.54,
p
0.02) correlated with a change in HRQOL. Changes in activity levels did not correlate with echocardiographic measures or NT-pro BNP.
Conclusions
Changes in daily step count and time spent at fairly active, lightly active, and sedentary activity levels correlate with changes in 6MWD, and HRQOL in subjects with PAH suggesting that accelerometry may be a useful monitoring tool.
PDF
